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ILLINOSS  HISTORICAL  SURVEY 


THE  WORLD'S  FAIR 


AS  SEEN  IN 


Hundred 


CONTAINING   A 


COMPLETE  HISTORY  OF  THE  WORLD'S  COLUMBIAN    EXPOSI- 

TION ;   CAPTIVATING  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  THE  MAGNIFI- 

CENT BUILDINGS  AND  MARVELOUS  EXHIBITS, 


SUCH   AS 


WORKS  OF  ART,  TEXTILE  FABRICS,   MACHINERY,   NATURAL 

PRODUCTS,  THE  LATEST  INVENTIONS,  DISCOVERIES, 

ETC.,  ETC.,  INCLUDING  A  FULL 

Description  of  Chicago,  itg  Wonderful  Building?,  fai1^,  etc, 
By  H.  D.  NORTHROP, 

THE  WELL-KNOWN  HISTORIAN. 
WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION 

'  By  MRS.  POTTER  PALMER, 

President  of  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers  of  the  World's 
Columbian  Exposition. 

INCLUDING 
A  CHAPTER  ON   THE   WOMAN'S   DEPARTMENT, 

By  MRS.  NANCY  HUSTON  BANKS, 

Member  of  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers  and  its  Official  Representative 
on  the  Editorial  Staff  of  the  Exposition. 


Embellished  with  Hundreds  of  Beautiful  Engrauings. 


PHILADELPHIA,  PA: 

ARIEL  BOOK  COMPANY, 

mi  &  1 1 13  MARKET  STREET. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1893,  by 

HENRY  DAVENPORT  NORTHROP, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


c|  07 .1*773  II  £•?      ft 


PRBFACB. 


OUR  aim  has  been  to  make  this  volume  worthy  of  the  grandest 
event  in  history.     It  contains  a  complete  description  of  the 
World's  Columbian  Exposition.     It  pictures  the  triumphs 
of  human  genius,  the  achievements  of  civilization  and  the 
resplendent  glories  of  America.     The  crowned   heads  of  Europe,  the 
governments  of  all  the  famous  nations  of  the  globe,  the  lands  of  the 
Orient  and  the  Islands  of  the  Sea  have  all  co-operated  in  the  Great  Ex- 
position.    Its  magnitude  and  marvelous  character  can  only  be  described 
by  saying  that  it  comprises  all  the  rarest  products  of  land  and  sea,  the 
most  dazzling  wonders  of  nature,  and  the  grandest  productions  of  human 
genius. 

This  gorgeous  display  is  vividly  portrayed  in  our  Pictorial  History  ot 
the  World's  Columbian  Exposition.  This  volume  is  a  brilliant  pano- 
rama of  the  Great  Fair  which  has  awakened  a  world-wide  interest.  The 
work  treats  of  the  Exposition  Grounds ;  giving  a  complete  description 
of  them  ;  their  attractive  location  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan  ;  the 
artistic  manner  in  which  they  are  laid  off;  their  charming  combination 
of  water-ways  and  spacious  avenues,  beautiful  lakes,  fountains  and  floral 
beauties,  and  the  location  of  every  object  of  interest  in  them. 

The  Manufactures'  and  Liberal  Arts'  Building  is  fully  described — 
that  superb  palace  of  iron  and  glass ;  its  immense  spaces  and  beautiful 
decorations  ;  its  gateways  designed  like  triumphal  arches  ;  its  projecting 
balconies ;  its  sculptured  eagles  ;  the  multitude  of  rare  and  charming 
exhibits  displayed  within  it ;  the  rich  jewels,  laces,  silks  and  manufac- 
tures of  all  kinds  which  are  here  spread  out  in  a  manner  surpassing  the 
wildest  flights  of  romance. 

The  work  fully  describes  Machinery  Hall,  the  Grand  Temple  of  the  Me- 
chanic Arts  ;  containing  a  graphic  description  of  the  great  engines,  the 
beautiful  products  of  human  genius,  and  the  thousands  of  machines 
which  exhibit  the  industries  and  show  the  mechanical  skill  of  the  world. 
This  is  a  wonderful  building,  showing  how  everything  is  made,  from  a 
pen  to  a  printing  press,  and  from  a  pin  to  a  locomotive.  Here  the  great 
inventions  which  have  made  our  age  superior  to  all  others,  astonish  all 
visitors  and  illustrate  the  almost  miraculous  achievements  of  human 
ingenuity. 

iii 


if  PREFACE. 

A  full  account  is  given  of  the  Agricultural  Building,  where  all  the 
farm  products  from  all  climes  are  shown  in  lavish  profusion.  Every 
farmer  can  spend  days  in  this  building  alone  and  be  interested  and  pro- 
fited at  every  step.  Agricultural  implements  of  every  description  show 
the  great  advance~wllic1v  has  been  made  in  labor-saving  machinery.  A 
glowing  picture  is  given  of  H'  [cultural  Hall,  the  fairy -like  palace  in 
which  are  displayed  the  How  --1*5  of  uie  v  •  Tld ;  its  more  than  rainbow 
beauties,  exquisite  perfumeo  and  rarest  varieties  of  floral  wonders. 

The  work  treats  of  the  Woman's  Building,  which  is  a  noble  monu- 
ment to  the  genius  of  woman,  showing  her  marvelous  successes  in 
Sculpture,  Painting,  Fancy  Work,  and  in  all  the  occupations  to  which 
she  has  devoted  her  time  and  energies.  This  department  of  the  Great 
Exposition  has  special  interest  to  women  of  all  nations.  It  shows  that 
woman's  achievements  are  among  the  most  dazzling  that  give  fame  and 
glory  to  the  nineteenth  century. 

Ample  space  is  afforded  to  the  Electrical  Building,  giving  a  vivid  il- 
lustration of  the  startling  discoveries  in  the  science  of  Electricity,  the 
brilliant  lights  that  turn  night  to  day ;  the  telegraph,  telephone,  phono- 
graph and  myriad  other  uses  to  which  the  lightnings  have  been  yoked 
by  the  great  inventors  of  America  and  other  nations. 

The  work  also  treats  of  the  Mines  and  Mining  Building,  showing  rich 
specimens  of  all  the  precious  metals  and  all  others,  with  the  ingenious 
machinery  used  in  gold-washing,  excavating,  smelting,  etc. 

A  graphic  description  is  given  of  the  Fisheries  Building.  This  is  one 
of  the  most  attractive  spots  in  the  Exposition.  The  wonders  of  the  sea 
are  here  brought  together.  A  vast  aquarium  contains  the  rarest  and 
most  beautiful,  as  well  as  the  most  hideous  specimens  of  the  finny 
tribes. 

All  visitors  are  interested  in  the  Palace  of  Fine  Arts.  This  is  a  grand 
display  of  world-renowned  sculptures  and  paintings.  It  shows  the  most 
charming  productions  of  the  chisel  and  the  brush.  The  admirers  of 
Works  of  Art  here  find  their  paradise. 

Descriptions  are  given  of  the  State  Buildings.  The  various  States 
have  erected  buildings  for  their  special  displays  and  for  the  comfort  and 
convenience  of  their  visitors.  These  are  shown  and  fully  described. 

Large  space  is  devoted  to  the  Buildings  of  Foreign  Countries  ;  giving 
descriptions  of  the  stately  mansions  of  all  Nations,  and  the  handsome 
pavilions  and  curious  bazaars  of  the  Japanese,  Turks,  Chinese  and  all 
Oriental  people.  A  vivid  picture  is  furnished  of  Midway  Plaisance,  the 
magnificent  "  Street  of  Nations,"  where  the  glories  ot  world-renowned 
kingdoms  and  Oriental  countries  are  fully  described. 


MRS    POTTER    PALMER 


INTRODUCTION 


BY    MRS.    FOTTKR 

PRESIDENT  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  LADY  MANAGERS  OF  THE 
WORLD'S  COLUMBIAN  EXPOSITION. 


THE  W@rld's  Columbian  Exposition  is  the  gradual  evolution  of 
a   popular   idea   crystallized  under  Government   action.     No 
more  fitting  celebration  of  the  four  centuries  of  Americau  ex- 
istence could  have  been  conceived.     The  only  ideal  republic 
that  has  ever  existed,  the  most  perfect,  the  most  powerful,  in  spreading 
her  achievements  in  the  industries,  sciences  and  arts  before  the  nations 
of  the  earth,  has  said  in  the  most  forceful  of  possible  ways :  "  See  what 
we  have  done  in  our  short  life !     See  the  result  of  our  little  more  than 
a  hundred  years  of  liberty !  " 

The  original  plan  of  the  World's  Fair  was  stupendous  ;  and  its  speci- 
fications when  first  announced  created  mingled  amazement  and  incre- 
dulity, especially  abroad.  Europe  seemed  unable  to  grasp  the  pub- 
lished statement  that  the  site  of  our  Exposition  comprised  six  hundred 
and  thirty-three  acres,  and  that  we  would  actually  have  under  roof  a 
larger  territory  than  was  occupied  by  the  entire  grounds  of  the  Paris 
Exposition.  Laughing  allusions  were  made  by  the  foreign  press  to  the 
exaggeration  which  has  been  called  an  American  trait.  Yet  grand  as 
was  this  first  incredible  scheme,  it  proved  inadequate  when  the  time  of 
exploitation  came.  Many  buildings  not  included  in  the  original  plan 
were  imperatively  demanded,  annexes  to  those  which  had  been  deemed 
sufficiently  spacious  became  absolutely  necessary,  and  so  the  giant  en- 
terprise grew  from  day  to  day  far  beyond  the  first  estimates. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  a  considerable  portion  of  the  vast 
site  was  an  undrained  swamp  when  World's  Fair  preparations  began. 
Yet  from  this  difficulty  came  the  inspiration  of  the  most  unique  and 
beautifying  single  feature  of  the  landscape  effect.  In  draining  the 
swamp  lagoons  leading  out  from  the  lake  were  cut,  and  picturesque 
bridges,  richly  ornamented  with  sculpture,  soon  spanned  them,  and  later 
brilliant  craft  of  infinite  variety  plied  between  the  grassy  flower- 
fringed  banks.  Nothing  need  be  said  of  the  indescribable  grandeur  of 


vi  INTRODUCTION. 

the  great  lake  laving  the  east  front  of  the  grounds,  nor  of  the  emerald 
background  supplied  by  the  towering  trees  of  South  Park.  So,  from 
the  mud  of  an  undrained  swamp  on  the  outskirts  of  an  immense  town 
of  yesterday,  there  arose  over  night  as  it  were  "A  City  of  Aladdin's 
Palaces."  *• 

The  Exposition  Buildings  are  the  realization,  in  what  seems  marble, 
of  architectural  dreams.  They  are  enriched  beyond  description  by 
sculptural  decorations,  designed  by  celebrated  artists,  by  gilding,  by  the 
colors  of  all  nations,  and  by  every  device  that  genius  could  suggest  and 
money  supply.  The  State  Buildings  are  of  absorbing  interest,  many  of 
them  being  reproductions  of  historical  structures.  Near  the  State 
Buildings,  and  almost  on  the  brink  of  Lake  Michigan's  blue  billows, 
stand  the  characteristic  buildings  of  Foreign  Governments.  On  the 
Midway  Plaisance  may  be  found  less  imposing,  but  most  strange  and 
interesting  specimens  of  quaint  European  and  Oriental  architecture. 

When  the  international  character  of  the  World's  Columbian  Com- 
mission had  become  established  beyond  question,  by  the  official  ac- 
ceptance by  most  of  the  important  Foreign  Governments  of  the  Presi- 
dent's invitation  to  participate,  the  possibility  of  the  formation  of  com- 
mittees of  women  in  these  countries  to  co-operate  with  the  Board  of 
Lady  Managers  was  considered.  When  the  suggestion  was  first  sub- 
mitted to  Mr.  Blaine,  then  our  Secretary  of  State,  the  original  idea  was, 
that  each  American  Minister  should  name  such  a  committee  in  the 
country  to  which  he  was  accredited.  This  plan  ultimately  developed, 
however,  into  the  far  stronger  and  more  efficacious  one  of  inviting  the 
foreign  Governments  to  appoint  these  committees  for  us.  This  admira- 
ble second  thought  was  a  veritable  inspiration,  since  it  not  only  pro- 
vided the  committee  thus  formed  with  money  to  work  with,  but  it  also 
gave  them  an  official  standing  most  helpful  and  strengthening  to  the 
women  of  these  countries. 

The  scheme  was  a  splendidly  daring  one  of  dazzling  possibilities,  but 
needed  to  be  executed  with  the  greatest  circumspection,  as  do  most 
innovations.  There  could  be  no  reason  against  it  except  the  fact  that 
it  was  unprecedented,  and  our  State  Department  might  well  have  hesi- 
tated to  place  itself  in  a  position  to  receive  a  rebuff  from  conservative 
governments.  But  with  due  caution  and  firm  and  strong  support  from 
the  Secretary,  our  idea  was  carried  into  brilliant  execution,  without 
encountering  at  any  point  the  slightest  opposition.  The  formation  of 
these  co-operative  foreign  committees  was,  it  is  true,  much  slower  than 
we  hoped  for.  In  France  it  was  retarded  by  political  complications,  a 
change  of  ministry  occuring  just  at  that  time. 


CHRISTOPHER  COLUMBUS. 


INTRODUCTION.  vii 

Government  machinery  moves  deliberately  in  all  countries.  Yet 
although  our  eagerly  desired  committees  were  not  immediately 
appointed,  our  work  went  swiftly  forward  in  Europe.  The  very  fact  of 
the  creation  of  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers  of  the  World's  Columbian 
Commission  was  sufficiently  extraordinary  to  attract  and  hold  the  at- 
tention of  foreign  women  of  the  best  thought.  Consequently  our 
invitation  was  at  once  understood  and  received  as  an  expression  of  our 
wish  to  extend  the  unprecedented  privilege  thus  placed  within  our  grasp 
to  the  women  of  the  whole  world.  It  met  with  universal  reception  of 
the  warmest  cordiality  ;  and  letters  from  the  principal  women  sov- 
ereigns of  Europe  and  Asia,  forwarded  to  the  Board  through  the  State 
Department,  signified  official  acceptance  of  the  invitation,  and  announced 
the  intention  to  appoint  the  co-operative  committees. 

The  movement  thus  inaugurated  spread  rapidly,  and  soon  seemed  to 
pervade  all  ranks  of  women  in  all  countries.  While  the  choice  for 
appointment  upon  these  committees  naturally  fell  upon  the  most  distin- 
guished women  of  the  highest  rank,  the  interest  in  World's  Fair  work 
extended  to  the  humblest  artisan.  The  lists  of  our  foreign  committees 
represent  not  only  royalty  and  the  influence  of  the  government,  but 
include  also  many  women  who  have  risen  to  the  positions  which  they 
occupy  by  their  own  unaided  talents,  who,  without  titles  or  wealth  to 
assist  them,  are  recommended  only  by  their  evident  ability  to  carry  on 
the  important  lines  of  work  intrusted  to  their  hands. 

Among  the  first  to  advocate  the  carrying  out  of  our  plan  were  well 
known  writers,  such  as  Madame  Adam,  and  Madame  Martin  in  France, 
Madame  Morgenstern  in  Germany,  and  Madame  Olive-Crona  of  Sweden, 
with  many  others  of  different  nationalities,  and  great  influence.  The 
intellectual  women  of  every  nation,  regardless  of  special  interests, 
avocation  or  social  position,  at  once  perceived  in  this  a  supreme  oppor- 
tunity for  the  advancement  of  their  sex.  The  rulers  of  empires  saw  in 
it  a  wonderful  chance  to  open  a  world-wide  market  for  the  wares  of 
their  subjects.  Her  Imperial  Highness,  the  Empress  of  Russia,  person- 
ally organized  the  Russian  Women's  Committee,  forming  it  of  the  most 
exalted  and  influential  personages  of  that  vast  empire.  Previous  to  that 
made  by  this  Committee,  no  comprehensive  collection  of  the  work  of 
Russian  women  had  ever  been  attempted ;  it  was  minutely  inspected  by 
the  Empress  herself  before  its  shipment  from  St.  Petersburg  to  the 
Exposition. 

Her  Majesty,  the  Queen  of  England,  from  the  first,  expressed  the 
deepest  interest  in  the  purposes  of  the  Board,  and  included  in  the 
British  exhibit  specimens  of  her  own  handiwork.  With  it  she  sent  the 


viu  INTRODUCTION. 

message  that  while  she  usually  felt  no  interest  in  Expositions,  she  gave 
this  special  token  of  sympathy  with  the  work  of  the  Board  of  Lady 
Managers,  because  of  its  efforts  for  women.  In  the  list  of  the  English- 
women Committee  are  some  of  the  greatest  names  of  the  kingdom, 
wijth  that  of  the  much  loved  Princess  Christian  at  the  head.  As  a 
further  indication  of  the  strength  and  efficiency  of  this  Committee, 
mention  need  only  be  made  of  such  names  as  those  of  the  Duchess  of 
Abercorn,  the  Marchioness  of  Salisbury,  the  Countess  of  Aberdeen, 
Lady  Henry  Somerset,  Lady  Brassey,  Baroness  Burdett-Coutts,  Lady 
Knutsford,  Lady  Jeune,  Mrs.  Bedford-Fen  wick,  and  Mrs.  Fawcett. 

The  Queen  of  the  Belgians  herself  is  the  President  of  that  country's 
committee,  and  is  actively  aided  by  the  Countess  of  Flanders.  The 
Countess  de  Denterghem,  celebrated  for  her  enlightened  philanthropy, 
was  also  prominent  in  arranging  the  Belgian  woman's  exhibit,  and 
nowhere  was  more  intelligent  cordiality  shown  toward  the  work  of  our 
Board  than  in  Belgium. 

After  once  declining,  Madam  Carnot  was  finally  induced  to  accept 
the  active  presidency  of  the  French  Committee,  and  has  secured  the 
co-operation  of  most  earnest,  efficient  and  influential  women  to  assist 
her.  In  Germany  the  committee  is  presided  over  by  the  Princess 
Friedrich  Carl,  the  widow  of  an  uncle  of  the  Emperor.  Frauline 
Lange,  Frau  Morgenstern,  and  other  noted  leaders  of  modern  thought 
are  members  of  this  committee. 

Italy  was  almost  the  first  to  announce  its  Committee,  under  the  special 
patronage  of  Queen  Marghuerita,  who  personally  directed  the  workj 
and  who  sent  her  marvelous  collection  of  historical  laces,  some  of  which 
date  back  1000  years  before  Christ,  having  been  taken  from  Egyptian 
and  Etruscan  tombs.  These  are  both  personal  and  Crown  property, 
and  have  never  before  left  Italy.  This  royally  generous  response  to 
our  appeal  was  doubly  welcome,  for  the  promise  of  it  came  when  diplo- 
matic relations  between  the  two  countries  were  severed,  and  it  was 
intended  as  a  special  mark  of  friendship.  Accompanying  this  lace  exhibit 
is  a  comprehensive  collection  of  the  work  of  the  Italian  women  of 
to-day,  a  prominent  feature  of  which  is  the  lace  made  by  the  peasant 
women  in  the  societies  organized  by,  and  under  the  direction  of  the 
Queen.  This  exhibit  forms  one  of  the  noted  features  of  the  Women's 
Building,  and  was  sent  to  us  in  charge  of  the  Countess  de  Brazza,  Lady 
in  waiting  to  -the  Queen  of  Italy.  As  an  American — formerly  Miss 
Cheatem,  of  New  Orleans — the  Countess  naturally  felt  a  strong 
patriotic  interest  in  the  Exposition,  in  addition  to  her  loyalty  to  the 
country  of  her  adoption. 


INTRODUCTION.  u 

The  Queen  Regent  of  Spain  made  prompt  and  cordial  response  to 
our  invitation,  and  the  exhibit  of  the  work  of  Spanish  women  is  among 
the  most  complete.  Austria,  after  some  hesitation,  came  also  into  line 
and  this  victory  was  particularly  gratifying  and  encouraging,  as  Austria 
is  one  of  the  most  conservative  strongholds  of  Europe. 

Yet  notwithstanding  Austria's  extreme  conservatism  many  of  her 
largest  and  most  important  institutions  and  industries  have  been 
founded  by  women,  notably  the  embroidery  school  of  Frau  Bach,  which 
attained  such  celebrity,  that  upon  her  death  it  was  given  a  government 
grant  and  was  continued  as  a  national  school  of  embroidery  and  design. 
Many  Austrian  ladies  of  rank  and  wealth  have  themselves  studied  the 
arts  and  industries  until  proficient  for  the  noble  purpose  of  teaching 
them  to  the  peasants  on  their  estates.  When  their  pupils  have  become 
experts,  these  ladies  find  a  market  for  their  work,  under  arrangements 
corresponding  somewhat  to  our  women's  exchange,  but  free  of  cost. 

Such  organizations  as  this  exist  everywhere  in  Europe.  In  fact  the 
representative  American  women  composing  the  Board  of  Lady  Man- 
agers have  found  it  difficult  to  come  up  to  the  expectation  formed  of  us 
abroad.  We  are  considered  very  advanced,  especially  in  the  matter  of 
organization,  and  in  having  the  courage  to  plan  and  execute  on  a  grand 
scale.  Among  English  women,  and  European  women  generally,  the 
great  complaint  seemed  everywhere  to  be,  the  lack  of  organization  and 
cohesion  ;  there  each  woman  carries  on  her  own  work  by  the  impetus 
she  individually  gives  it,  and  when  she  dies,  or  drops  out,  the  work  falls 
to  pieces.  She  is  not  helped  nor  supported  by  other  women. 

Yet  while  we  may  have  the  advantage  of  our  European  sisters  in  the 
matter  of  organization  along  industrial,  philanthropic  and  professional 
lines,  in  other  respects  they  are  in  advance  of  us.  The  foreign  co- 
operative movement  has  brought  surprise  from  several  sources ;  for 
example  Russia,  which  is  usually  regarded  as  being  far  behind  the  aver- 
age modern  thought,  has  numerous  colleges  and  higher  institutions  of 
learning  for  its  women.  They  have  a  medical  college  for  training  women 
physicians,  and  six  hundred  of  the  latter  are  successfully  practicing  their 
profession.  One  of  their  learned  astronomers  of  our  own  sex  has  been 
for  many  years  professor  of  astronomy  in  a  man's  college  in  Denmark, 
and  is  celebrated  in  the  scientific  world  for  her  attainments.  The  Italian 
women  of  to-day  are  not  only  alert  and  keenly  intelligent,  but  we  find 
that  during  the  "  golden  cinquecento,"  women  were  professors  in  colleges, 
doctors,  lawyers  and  ministers  of  the  highest  distinction. 

Madam  Diaz  has  been  notably  active  in  the  representation  from  Mexico, 
and  to  her  personal  efforts  the  Board  is  deeply  indebted  for  the  interesting 


x  INTRODUCTION. 

showing  of  the  work  of  the  women  of  that  country.  The  only  European 
government  which  positively  declined  the  invitation  for  its  women  to 
participate,  was  Denmark.  This  was  doubly  singular  from  the  fact  of 
the  widely  recognized  progressiveness  of  the  Queen,  and  the  enthusi- 
astic interest  taken  in  World's  Fair  work  by  her  Majesty's  daughters  in 
other  countries.  It  is  pleasant  to  record,  however,  that  this  refusal  was 
reconsidered,  and  Danish  women  have  participated  most  creditably  in 
the  Exposition,  the  patronesses  of  this  committee  being  two  princesses 
of  the  Royal  family.  The  women  of  Japan  proved  themselves  especially 
interested,  for  even  before  our  invitation  was  addressed  to  their  sove- 
reign, they  had  formed  a  committee  and  were  working  unofficially  to 
collect  an  exhibit  to  send  us. 

When  the  Empress  received  our  request  she  responded  most  gener- 
ously, and  offered  us  immediate  assurances  of  her  warm  sympathy.  She 
consented  to  become  the  head  of  the  committee  which  had  already  made 
such  a  courageous  effort,  and  under  her  kindly  patronage  was  collected 
the  exceedingly  unique  and  beautiful  exhibit  of  the  work  of  Japanese 
women  displayed  in  our  Building. 

In  China  our  Board  worked  at  great  disadvantage,  owing  to  the  keen 
humiliation  felt  there  at  the  Exclusion  Laws.  We,  however,  did  all  that 
we  could  in  influencing  the  passage  of  the  Act  of  Congress  allowing  the 
admission  of  Chinese  exhibitors.  The  Queen  of  Siam  sent  a  special 
delegate  to  the  Exposition,  with  directions  to  place  herself  under  our 
guidance  in  order  to  learn  what  educational  and  industrial  advantages 
are  open  to  the  women  of  other  countries,  so  that  Siam  may  adopt  such 
measures  to  advance  the  condition  of  her  women. 

The  work  of  the  Siamese  women,  although  not  large  in  variety,  is 
particularly  rich  and  effective,  attracting  much  admiring  attention. 
Another  exhibit  by  women  whose  opportunities  have  been  almost  as 
meagre  as  those  of  Siam,  comes  from  Bohemia.  Bohemian  women  have 
sent  us  their  handiwork,  distinct  from  the  Austrian  exhibit,  and  make  a 
unique  and  most  creditable  showing.  Indeed  Bohemia  has  evinced  most 
cordial  sympathy  with  the  work  of  our  Board  throughout  its  progress, 
and  early  announced  the  patriotic  intention,  so  successfully  carried  out> 
of  making  a  display  distinct  from  the  Austrian  exhibit. 

The  present  powerful  organization  secured  by  the  Board  extends  round 
the  world,  and  stands  with  perfect  solidarity  for  the  purpose  of  serving 
the  interests  of  our  sex,  and  making  the  industrial  conditions  easier  for 
women.  We  have  such  an  organization  as  has  never  before  existed  of 
women  for  women.  That  this  work  is  needed  is  evidenced  by  the 
pathetic  answers  from  some  of  the  countries  where  our  invitation  has 


INTRODUCTION.  xi 

been  declined.  For  instance,  a  letter  from  the  Government  of  Tunis 
states  that  a  commission  of  women  cannot  be  formed  in  that  country 
because  local  prejudice  will  not  allow  the  native  women  to  take  part 
in  public  affairs.  Syrian  correspondents  write  that  it  will  be  impossible 
to  secure  the  official  appointment  of  a  committee  of  women  in  that 
country,  as  custom  prevents  women  from  taking  hold  of  such  work,  and 
the  government  will  lend  no  aid  ;  but  a  successful  effort  was  made  to 
send  a  small  exhibit,  unofficially.  Other  Oriental  countries  make  the 
same  reports — no  schools — women  not  intelligent  enough  to  undertake 
the  work — public  prejudice,  etc.  It  seems  incredible  that  the  govern- 
ments of  these  countries  would  be  willing  to  make  admissions  which 
reflect  so  discreditably  upon  themselves,  or  that  they  would  allow  these 
shameful  conditions  to  continue. 

The  oppressive  bonds  laid  upon  women,  both  by  religion  and  custom, 
are  in  some  cases  so  strong  as  to  be  unsurmountable,  probably,  during 
the  present  generation.  A  lady,  eminent  for  her  work  on  behalf  of  the 
women  in  India,  has  said  that  the  difficulty  in  doing  anything  for  them  is 
their  complete  mental  inactivity  and  their  lack  of  desire  to  change  their 
condition ;  they  are  so  bound  by  the  prevailing  laws  of  caste  and  the 
prejudices  that  exist,  that  they  have  no  wish  for  different  surroundings; 
the  desire  for  something  better  must  be  created  before  anything  can  be 
done  to  help  them.  We  trust  that  the  movement  for  the  advancement 
of  women,  inaugurated  in  connection  with  the  World's  Columbian  Expo- 
sition, and  which  has  steadily  and  swiftly  progressed  in  its  develop- 
ment, may  create  such  a  desire  in  the  hearts  of  all  women  of  all  nations. 
Could  we  have  the  women  of  the  Orient  with  us  in  large  numbers,  we 
might  feel  a  happier  surety  of  this.  Yet  there  is  the  hopeful  fact  to  re- 
cord, that  even  where  the  night  has  seemed  the  darkest,  we  have  received 
letters  from  native  women  to  whom  the  dawn  of  a  brighter  day  is  visi- 
ble, showing  a  full  comprehension  of  the  situation,  and  an  awakened 
intelligence.  These  women  have  worked  in  their  feeble  way  to  send  us, 
unofficially,  such  an  exhibit  as  they  were  able  to  get  together,  notwith- 
standing official  refusals. 

Without  touching  upon  politics,  suffrage,  or  other  irrelevant  issues^ 
this  unique  organization  for  women,  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers,  has 
devoted  itself  to  the  promotion  of  their  industrial  interests.  It  has 
addressed  itself  to  the  formation  of  a  public  sentiment,  which  will  favor 
woman's  industrial  equality,  and  her  receiving  just  compensation  for 
services  rendered.  It  has  earnestly  endeavored  to  secure  for  her  work 
the  consideration  and  respect  which  it  deserves,  and  to  establish  her 
importance  as  an  economic  factor.  To  this  end  it  has  collected  and 


xii  INTRODUCTION. 

installed  in  these  buildings  exhibits,  showing  the  value  of  her  contribu- 
tions to  the  industries,  sciences  and  arts,  as  well  as  statistics  giving  the 
proportionate  amount  of  her  work  in  every  country. 

For  the  first  time  in  history,  women  of  all  nations  and  of  almost  every 
condition,  are  working  towards  a  common  purpose  along  a  firmly  estab- 
lished line  of  co-operation,  encircling  the  universe.  This  extraordinary 
international  organization  has  the  official  recognition  of  the  various  gov- 
ernments represented,  and  that  representation  is  of  the  majority  of  the 
important  nations  of  the  earth.  These  co-operative  committees  of 
women,  acting  with  executive  powers  conferred  by  their  respective  gov- 
ernments, are  also  sustained  in  this  great  undertaking  by  governmental 
funds.  From  such  conditions  important  results  must  be  evolved. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE. 

FROM  A  LOG  HUT  TO  A  METROPOLIS 17 

CHAPTER  II. 
RAPID  GROWTH  OF  CHICAGO  AND  THE  GREAT  FIRE  OF  1871 35 

CHAPTER  III. 
GREAT  INDUSTRIES  OF  CHICAGO 54 

CHAPTER  IV. 
PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO 70 

CHAPTER  V. 
PARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST 117 

CHAPTER  VI. 
CELEBRATION  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA  BY  COLUMBUS 145 

CHAPTER  VII. 
BOARD  OF  LADY  MANAGERS  AND  ITS  WORK 162 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES 178 

CHAPTER  IX. 
MANUFACTURES   AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING 210 

CHAPTER  X. 

MACHINERY  HALL 229 

xiii 


*iv  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

PAGE. 

ELECTRICITY  BUILDING 239 

CHAPTER  XII. 
AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING 255 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
HORTICULTURAL  BUILDING 271 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
ART  PALACE 289 

CHAPTER  XV. 
WOMAN'S  BUILDING 308 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
UNITED  STATES  GOVERNMENT  BUILDING 336 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
FISHERIES  BUILDING 358 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

/ 

TRANSPORTATION  BUILDING 370 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
MINES  AND  MINING  BUILDING 390 

CHAPTER  XX. 
EASTERN  AND  MIDDLE  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR 402 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
SOUTHERN  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR 426  * 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
WESTERN  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR.    ...    • 437 


CONTENTS.  xv 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

PAGE. 
WESTERN  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR  (Continued) 462 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
GREAT  BRITAIN  AND  COLONIES 490 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

i 

ATTRACTIVE  EXHIBITS  FROM  GERMANY  AND  BELGIUM 506 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
ARTS  AND  INDUSTRIES  OF  FRANCE 521 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 
SPAIN,  ITALY,  AND  THE  COLUMBUS  EXHIBITS 539 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
A  GROUP  OF  EUROPEAN  NATIONS 559 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
CURIOSITIES  FROM  JAPAN 580 

CHAPTER  XXX. 
MEXICO  AND  SOUTH  AMERICAN  COUNTRIES 593 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
FORESTRY  BUILDING  AND  WOODED  ISLAND 603 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

i 

CHILDREN'S  BUILDING 616 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 
UNITED  STATES  NAVAL  EXHIBIT 625 


xvi  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

PAGE. 
WOMAN'S  MARVELLOUS  ACHIEVEMENTS 632 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 
CURIOUS  SIGHTS  ALONG  MIDWAY  PLAISANCE 651 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 
STRANGE  PEOPLE  IN  MIDWAY  PLAISANCE 675 

CHAPTER   XXXVII. 
INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST 690 

CHAPTER   XXXVIII. 
INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST  (Continued) 707 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


FULL  PAGE  PHOTOTYPE  ENGRAVINGS. 


MRS.  POTTER  PALMER. 

MRS.  NANCY  HUSTON  BANKS. 

THE  MACMONNIES  COLUMBIAN  FOUNTAIN. 

STATUE  OF  THE  REPUBLIC— SHOWING  THE  PERISTYLE. 

THE  DOLL  EXHIBIT  IN  THE  MANUFACTURES  BUILDING. 

VIEW  OF  THE  AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING  FROM  THE  LAGOON. 

THE  CANADA  BUILDING. 

WEDDING  PROCESSION  IN  THE  STREETS  OF  CAIRO. — MIDWAY  PLAISANCE. 

INTERIOR  VIEW  OF  THE  MANUFACTURES  BUILDING. 

GROUP  OF  STAFF  WORKERS. 

CHRISTOPHER  COLUMBUS. 

COLUMBUS  SIGHTING  LAND. 

ADMINISTRATION  BUILDING. 

MACHINERY  HALL. 

UNITED  STATES  GOVERNMENT  BUILDING. 

MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING. 

MINES  AND  MINING  BUILDING. 

ART  INSTITUTE. 

AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING. 

ELECTRICAL  BUILDING. 

FISH  AND  FISHERIES  BUILDING. 

WOMAN'S  BUILDING. 

TRANSPORTATION  BUILDING. 

HORTICULTURAL  BUILDING. 

BIRD'S-EYE  VIEW  OF  THE  WORLD'S  COLUMBIAN  EXPOSITION. 

THE  ART  PALACE. 


xviii  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 

Columbus  Headpiece 17 

The  Ensign  of  the  City  of  Chicago 17 

Fort  Dearborn 19 

Map  of  Chicago  in  1812 21 

General  Anthony  Wayne 23 

Massacre  by  Indians  at  Fort  Dearborn 24 

The  Old  Kinzie  House 27 

Coat  of  Arms  of  Illinois 28 

Map  of  Chicago  in  1830 29 

Chicago  in  1833 30 

Black  Hawk 31 

Green  Tree  House,  the  First  Hotel  in  Chicago 33 

Lake  Street  in  1870 40 

The  Burning  of  Chicago 43 

The  Day  after  the  Fire 46 

Map  of  the  Burned  District 49 

A  Prairie  Farm — Scene  Near  Chicago 52 

Union  Stock  Yards •  .    .    .  55 

Chicago  River  and  Grain  Elevators 60 

Interior  of  Pullman  Sleeping  Car 64 

Interior  of  Pullman  Parlor  Car 65 

The  Auditorium 71 

Board  of  Trade — Exterior 74 

Board  of  Trade — Interior 74 

Libby  Prison  and  War  Museum 78 

Siegel  and  Cooper's  Retail  Store 79 

Chicago  Post-Office 81 

Union  League  Club 83 

Ashland  Building 84 

Interstate  Industrial  Exposition  Building 85 

Presidential  Nomination  in  Industrial  Building 87 

The  County  Court  House 89 

Adams  and  La  Salle  Streets 91 

State  Street  from  Randolph 93 

La  Salle  Street  looking  North  from  the  Board  of  Trade 97 

Lincoln  Tomb  at  Springfield 99 

Michigan  Avenue  from  the  Lake  Front 100 

The  Pullman  Building 102 

The  Temple , 104 

Masonic  Temple 105 

The  Palmer  House,  Chicago 107 

Great  Northern  Hotel 108 

Leland  Hotel,  Chicago 109 

South  Park  Avenue  M.  E.  Church no 

South  Congregational  Church,  Hyde  Park in 

The  Art  Institute  of  Chicago 112 

Grand  Central  Depot 114 

Lake  Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  Depot 115 

Schiller  Theatre 116 

Hon.  John  A.  Logan 118 

The  Late  John  A.  Logan's  Residence  in  Chicago 119 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS.  xix 

PAGE 

Boat  House  and  Restaurant,  Lincoln  Park 120 

Lake  Shore  Drive,  Lincoln  Park 122 

Grant  Monument  in  Lincoln  Park 123 

Skating  in  Lincoln  Park 124 

Pavilion  in  Humboldt  Park 125 

Grand  Boulevard I27 

Drexel  Boulevard I29 

The  Haymarket  Monument      .    .    - I31 

Drexel  Fountain J32 

Race  Track,  Washington  Park 133 

Douglas  Monument •. 134 

Stephen  A.  Douglas 135 

Chicago  Water  Works 13& 

Engines  of  the  North  Side  Water  Works 138 

Water  Works  Crib 139 

West  Approach  to  Washington  Street  Tunnel 141 

Entrance  to  Chicago  Harbor 142 

Head  of  Columbus 144 

Ex-President  Harrison 147 

Thomas  W.  Palmer 149 

Harlow  N.  Higginbotham 158 

George  R.  Davis 159 

Moses  P.  Handy 160 

Map  of  the  City  of  Chicago 164 

Mrs.  Potter  Palmer 167 

Hon.  Levi  P.  Morton 179 

Great  Parade  Passing  the  Palmer  House 182 

Chauncey  M.  Depew 184 

Dedication  of  the  World's  Fair  Buildings 187 

The  Ships  of  Columbus 190 

President  Cleveland 191 

United  States  Dispatch  Boat  "Dolphin" 192 

Group  of  War  Vessels  at  the  Naval  Review  in  New  York  Harbor 194 

United  States  Cruiser  "Chicago" 195 

Map  of  Jackson  Park 198 

Series  of  Tickets  of  Admission 202 

Columbus  Chariot  Surmounting  Entrance  to  the  Lake    . 203 

View  of  the  Opening  Ceremonies 207 

An  Artistic  Exhibit  in  Manufactures  Building 225 

Christopher  Columbus 230 

Figure  on  Bridge  over  the  Lagoon 232 

Medal  Presented  to  the  Designers  of  the  Exposition  Buildings 234 

Edison's  Phonograph 244 

Statue  of  the  Republic    . , 247 

The  Rolling  Chair 251 

Equestrian  Statue  in  the  Agricultural  Pavilion 256 

Group  on  the  Agricultural  Building 258 

Group  on  the  Agricultural  Building   .            261 

The  Horoscope  Group  on  the  Agricultural  Building 263 

A  Beer  Pavilion  in  Agricultural  Building 265 

Statue  of  Plenty 267 


xx  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGB 

Replica  of  the  Old  Mill 268 

Ornamental  Vase  and  Flowers 273 

Group  of  Palm  Trees  . 275 

Folding  Flower  Stand  and  Fernery 277 

Statue  of  Art 297 

Reception  in  the  Art  Palace 299 

Statue  of  Music 301 

Group  of  Decoration  on  Woman's  Building 310 

Group  of  Decoration  on  Woman's  Building 312 

Model  of  a  Leper's  Home 328 

The  Souvenir  Quarter  of  a  Dollar 332 

Meeting  at  the  Opening  of  the  Woman's  Congress 334 

Band  Concert  on  Administration  Plaza 345 

Columbian  Guards 346 

Exhibit  of  Tobacco 349 

Figure  Symbolizing  Transportation 374 

Locomotive  "John  Bull"  and  Railroad  Train 378 

Models  of  War  Vessels — Transportation  Building 384 

Statue  Representing  Capital — Mines  and  Mining  Building 390 

Missouri's  Mineral  Pavilion — Mines  and  Mining  Building 396 

California  Pavilion  in  the  Mines  Building 399 

Massachusetts  State  Building 404 

Rhode  Island  State  Building 407 

New  Hampshire  State  Building 408 

Maine  State  Building 409 

Vermont  State  Building 412 

Connecticut  State  Building 413 

Pennsylvania  State  Building 414 

Old  Bell  of  Independence  Hall 416 

New  Jersey  State  Building 419 

New  York  State  Building 421 

Delaware  State  Building 423 

Maryland  State  Building 425 

Florida  State  Building 428 

Texas  State  Building 430 

Virginia  State  Building 431 

West  Virginia  State  Building 435 

Illinois  State  Building 439 

The  Dancers— Decoration  in  Illinois  Building 441 

The  Drama — Decoration  in  Illinois  Building 441 

Ohio  State  Building j\^ 

Michigan  State  Building • 447 

Indiana  State  Building 453 

Missouri  State  Building 455 

Kansas  State  Building , 457 

Iowa  State  Building 463 

Nebraska  State  Building 465 

Wisconsin  State  Building 467 

Wisconsin  Mineral  Exhibit .f  .    .    .  468 

Minnesota  State  Building 470 

Colorado  State  Building 474 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS.  xxi 

PAGE 

North  Dakota  State  Building 477 

South  Dakota  State  Building 478 

Wyoming  State  Building 479 

Idaho  State  Building 480 

Washington  State  Building 483 

Montana  State  Building 484 

California  State  Building 486 

Territorial  Building 487 

Utah  Building 488 

Walker  Fearn — Chief  of  Foreign  Exhibits 491 

Victoria  House 495 

Elizabethan  Fireplace — Victoria  House 496 

Central  Court  of  East  Indian  Pavilion 501 

British  Guiana's  Exhibit 504 

Germany's  Building • 508 

The  Germania  Group  of  Decoration ,   , 513 

Krupp's  Great  Cannon  on  its  Way  to  the  Exposition '-517 

Statue  of  a  Great  Norman  Draught  Horse 526 

Convent  of  Santa  Maria  de  La  Rabida 540 

The  Rolling-Chair  Stand 544 

Monument  to  Columbus  at  Genoa 550 

The  Infanta  Eulalia  of  Spain 553 

The  Columbus  Statue 556 

Grand  Rotunda  of  the  World's  Fair  Terminal  Station 561 

Norway's  Building 565 

Norsemen  Marching  to  Festival  Hall 566 

The  Swedish  Building 571 

The  Columbian  Tower 575 

Address  of  Welcome 577 

Japanese  Building 584 

Japanese  Tea  House 586 

Columbus  Monument  in  Mexico 594 

Venezuela  Building 598 

Guatemala  Building 601 

Forestry  Building 605 

Brazil's  Pavilion  in  the  Forestry  Building 608 

Venetian  Gondolas  at  Jackson  Park 611 

Hunter's  Cabin  on  Wooded  Island 612 

Children's  Building  at  the  World's  Fair 617 

In  the  Babies'  Room 619 

A  Corner  of  the  Nursery 622 

United  States  Battle-Ship  "  Illinois  " 627 

The  Great  Ferris  Wheel 652 

View  in  Midway  Plaisance 654 

The  Irish  Village 656 

View  in  Midway  Plaisance 658 

German  Village  in  Midway  Plaisance 660 

Some  Old  German  Figures        .    .    * 662 

View  in  Midway  Plaisance 664 

Entrance  to  Old  Vienna — Midway  Plaisance 666 

L.ibby  Glass  Company's  Building 667 


xxii  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGB 

New  England  Ceremony  of  Hanging  the  Crane 672 

Joss  and  his  Supporters 677 

Festivities  in  the  Chinese  Joss  House 679 

Chinese  Theatre  and  Joss  House 680 

View  in  Midway  Plaisance 682 

Dedicating  the  Turkish  Mosque ...  686 

An  Egyptian  Mosque .  688 

The  Crystal  Palace — London  Exhibition,  1851 692 

Interior  View  of  the  Transept  of  Crystal  Palace 694 

Crystal  Palace — New  York  Exhibition,  1853 •  .    .  696 

Palace  of  Industry — Paris  Exhibition,  1855 698 

London  Exhibition,  1862 700 

Paris  Exposition  Building  and  Grounds,  1867 702 

Grand  Vestibule  of  the  Paris  Exhibition  Building,  1867 703 

Entrance  to  the  Paris  Exhibition,  1867 705 

Rotunda  of  the  Vienna  Exposition  Building,  1873 7°8 

Central  Dome  of  the  Vienna  Exposition  Building,  1873 710 

Bird's-Eye  View  of  Centennial  Grounds,  International  Exhibition,  Philadelphia  712 

View  of  the  Main  Building  of  the  Centennial  Exhibition 714 

Obverse  of  Centennial  Medal 715 

Reverse  of  Centennial  Medal 715 

Memorial  Hall,  Centennial  Exhibition,  Philadelphia 716 

The  Eiffel  Tower .718 


Story   of   Chicago. 

CHAPTER   I. 
From   a   Log   Hut  to  a   Metropolis. 

SIXTY  years  ago  the  spot  where  Chicago  now  stands  was  a 
marsh.     No  one  would  then  have  dreamed  that  to-day  3 
great  city  of  more  than  a  million  people  would  stand  01 
the  southwest  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  and  that  hei "i 
would  be  located  the  grandest  Exposition  the  world  has  ever  seen. 
Then  a  few  Indian  trails  crossed  the  moorland ;  to-day  there 
are  wide  streets  and  boulevards,  immense  buildings  devoted  to 
business,  and  palatial  residences  which  have  all  the  requirements 
of  wealth  and  refinement.     Chicago  has  grown  as  by  magic,  and 
no  other  city  has  made  such  rapid  strides.     It  has  added  to  its 
glory  by  the  vast   preparations  made  for  celebrating  the  four 
hundredth     anniversary    of    the     discovery    of    America    by 
Columbus. 

The  early  history  of  Chicago  and  the  surrounding  country  is 
quite  as  interesting  as  that  of  any  other  part  of  the  United 
States.  Here  was  the  home  of  famous  Indian  tribes,  and  their  strug- 
gles with  the  white  settlers  form  a  thrilling  story  which  will  never 
cease  to  be  read. 

Jacques  Marquette  was  a  celebrated  French  missionary  and  discoverer. 
He  travelled  and  labored    several  years  in  Canada  and  in  other  parts  of 
North  America.     Louis  Joliet  was  another  French  traveller  and  one  of 
2  17 


18  FROM  A   LOG   HUT  TO  A   METROPOLIS. 

the  first  white  men  that  explored  the  Mississippi  River.  In  1673  Father 
Marquette  and  Joliet  conducted  a  small  exploring  party  from  Quebec. 
Entering  the  great  Mississippi  River  at  the  mouth  of  the  Wisconsin, 
they  descended  in  canoes  nearly  to  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas,  They 
were  prevented  from  pursuing  the  voyage  by  reports  that  the  river  below 
was  infested  by  armed  savages,  and  they  returned  in  canoes  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Illinois,  which  they  ascended.  These  and  other  missionaries,  in 
letters  and  records,  often  speak  of  the  "  Checagua  River,"  but  they  do 
not  speak  of  any  fort,  cabin,  or  habitation  of  any  description  on  the  spot 
where  Chicago  now  stands. 

For  a  long  time  the  wilderness  of  the  great  Northwest  remained  unex- 
plored. An  interesting  character,  however,  appeared  upon  the  scene  in 
the  spring  of  1779.  He  was  from  the  Island  of  San  Domingo,  and  was 
said  to  have  been  a  slave  named  Baptiste  Point  de  Sable.  There  were 
French  settlements  at  this  time  in  Louisiana,  and  from  these  Point  de  Sable 
visited  the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  a 
trade  in  furs.  His  rude  log  hut  was  the  first  building  on  the  shore  of  the 
lake,  and  was  the  beginning  of  our  great  Western  Metropolis.  This  has 
led  to  the  humorous  remark  that  "  the  first  white  settler  of  Chicago  was 
a  black  man." 

Indians  and  Trappers. 

Our  government  was  anxious  then,  as  it  always  has  been,  to  obtain 
lands  from  the  Indians  by  treaty  or  otherwise.  The  trade  in  furs  rend- 
ered it  desirable  that  the  Indians  should  "  move  on  "  and  leave  the  trap- 
pers to  pursue  their  avocation  in  peace.  By  the  treaty  made  with  the 
Indians  in  August,  1795,  "  six  miles  square  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chicago 
River"  were  ceded  to  the  United  States.  The  locality  is  described  as  the 
place  where  an  old  fort  stood.  No  tradition  or  recollection  of  this,  how- 
ever, existed  among  the  Indians  at  that  time.  If  any  such  building 
ever  stood  there  it  must  have  been  a  rude  structure  for  the  storing  of 
provisions,  and  no  traces  of  it  remained  when  the  treaty  was  formed. 
Point  de  Sable  lived  in  his  log  cabin  for  seventeen  years,  and  in  1796  sold 
out  his  business  to  a  Frenchman  named  Le  Mai,  and  soon  afterward  died 
at  Peoria.  Le  Mai  became  an  important  personage,  pushed  the  fur  busi- 
ness with  remarkable  energy,  attracted  other  traders  to  the  locality,  and 
soon  there  was  a  settlement  on  the  present  site  of  Chicago. 

The  next  chapter  in  this  early  history  relates  to  Fort  Dearborn,  the 
tragic  story  of  which  shows  the  sacrifices  made  by  the  settlers  and  the 
dangers  they  encountered. 


FROM  A  LOG   HUT  TO  A  METROPOLIS. 


19 


"  The  fort,"  says  A.  T.  Andrews,  in  his  "  History  of  Early  Chicago," 
"stood  on  the  south  side  of  the  Chicago  River,  where  the  stream  turned 
to  enter  the  lake.  It  had  two  block-houses,  one  on  the  southwest  corner, 
the  other  on  the  northwest.  On  the  north  side  a  subterranean  passage 
led  from  the  parade  ground  to  the  river,  designed  as  a  way  of  escape  in 
case  of  emergency  or  for  supplying  the  garrison  with  water  in  time  of 
siege.  The  whole  was  inclosed  by  a  strong  palisade  of  wooden  pickets. 
At  the  west  of  the  fort  and  fronting  north  on  the  river  was  a  two-story 
log  building,  covered  with  split  oak  siding.  This  was  the  United  States 


FORT  DEARBORN. 

agency  house.  On  the  shores  of  the  river,  between  the  fort  and  the 
agency,  were  the  root-houses,  or  cellars  of  the  garrison.  The  ground 
on  the  south  side  was  inclosed  and  cultivated  as  a  garden.  Three  pieces 
of  light  artillery  comprised  the  commandment  of  the  fort." 

The  builder  and  first  commander  of  Fort  Dearborn  was  Captain  John 
Whistler.  He  was  an  excellent  officer,  and  under  his  command,  which 
lasted  for  seven  years,  the  little  garrison  was  undisturbed.  Gradually, 
American  settlers  were  drawn  to  the  place  and  the  French  element  disap- 
peared. Fort  Dearborn  was  fast  becoming  an  important  trading  post. 
To  maintain  it  was  considered  a  risky  undertaking,  for  the  reason  that  it 


20  FROM  A  LOG  HUT  TO  A  METROPOLIS. 

was  far  removed  from  the  borders  of  civilization,  and  its  safety  depended 
upon  the  friendship  of  the  Illinois  and  Pottawatomie  Indians. 

The  first  family  to  settle  in  Chicago  was  that  of  John  Kinzie,  who 
came  from  St.  Joseph,  across  the  lake,  while  the  fort  was  being  built  in 
1803.  He  took  up  his  residence  with  Le  Mai,  the  prosperous  trader, 
and  has  been  styled  the  "  Father  of  Chicago."  He  was  a  valuable  man 
in  a  new  settlement.  His  business  was  that  of  silversmith,  but  having 
been  a  trader  for  a  number  of  years,  he  was  well  acquainted  with  the 
Indian  tribes,  and  was  so  familiar  with  their  dialects  that  he  could  act  as 
interpreter  between  them  and  the  English.  In  the  little  settlement  were 
all  the  phases  of  social  life  found  in  larger  places;  there  were  tea- 
parties,  dances  and  weddings.  Life  upon  the  frontier  was  .romantic,  and 
the  little  hamlet  had  its  social  events  and  happenings  as  if  it  were  the 
capital  of  an  empire. 

Captain  Whistler  was  succeeded  in  iSioby  Captain  Nathan  Heald,  who 
was  born  in  New  Hampshire  in  1/75.  His  wife,  Rebecca,  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and. the  daughter  of  Captain  Samuel  Wells,  the  famous 
Indian  fighter.  Soon  after  he  took  command  of  the  fort,  our  country 
was  involved  in  the  second  war  with  Great  Britain.  The  Indians  around 
Chicago,  who  had  hitherto  been  friendly,  began  to  show  a  restless  spirit, 
and  it  was  not  long  before  startling  news  came  of  a  dreadful  massacre 
at  Fort  Dearborn.  Many  tribes  that  had  before  shown  no  hostility  to 
the  United  States  went  over  to  the  English. 

Battle  of  "  Tippecanoe." 

The  brave  and  powerful  Indian  chief,  Tecumseh,  was  the  principal 
leader  in  stirring  up  strife.  He  visited  all  the  tribes  south  and  west  of 
Chicago,  appeared  in  their  councils,  made  eloquent  speeches,  inflamed 
the  bloodthirsty  warriors,  and  planned  a  general  slaughter  of  all  the 
white  settlers  in  the  vicinity.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  name  of 
Tecumseh  comes  out  prominently  in  the  battle  of  the  Thames,  or,  as  it 
is  sometimes  called,  the  battle  of  "  Tippecanoe,"  and  that  in  this  bloody 
contest  William  Henry  Harrison,  afterward  President  of  the  United 
States,  achieved  the  proud  distinction  which  helped  to  make  him  a  can- 
didate for  the  highest  position  in  the  gift  of  the  nation.  This  able  and 
daring  commander  showed  himself  competent  to  deal  with  the  hostiles, 
and  by  his  good  generalship  and  great  courage  soon  settled  the  Indian 
question. 

As  Fort  Dearborn  was  far  removed  from  civilization  it  was  in  constant 
danger.  On  the  5th  of  August,  1812,  Captain  Heald  received  a  dis- 
patch from  General  Hull,  then  in  command  at  Detroit,  ordering  him  to 


FROM  A  LOG  HUT  TO  A  METROPOLIS. 


21 


evacuate  the  fort  and  proceed  with  his  forces  to  Detroit.  Captain  Heald, 
who  was  a  very  brave  officer,  was  unwilling  to  abandon  his  position 
before  any  effort  had  been  made  to  hold  it.  He  relied  also  upon  the 
friendship  of  the  Pottawatomies,  who  promised  him  a  safe  escort  when- 
ever he  wished  to  leave.  Under  these  circumstances  it  is  not  surprising 
that  he  raised  decided  objections  to  abandoning  his  position.  It  would 
doubtless  have  been  better  if  he  had  acted  at  once  instead  of  delaying 
his  departure  six  days.  The  fort,  although  comparatively  defenceless, 
had  remained  so  long  without  being  attacked  by  any  foe  that  he  doubt- 
less underestimated  the  danger  that  threatened  him.  Sixty-six  soldiers 
comprised  the  garrison,  a  mere  handful  compared  with  the  number  of 
savages,  who  were  watching  their  opportunity.  A  small  number  of  resi- 


CHICAGO,    IN  1812. 


MAP  OF  CHICAGO  IN   I  8  12. 

dents  had  their  houses  in  the  vicinity  of  the  fort,  among  whom  was  the 
leading  citizen,  John  Kinzie.  Five  women  dwelt  inside  the  fort ;  these 
were  the  wives  of  Captain  Heald  and  Sargeant  Holt,  the  wife  of  a  French 
trader,  her  sister,  and  the  wife  of  a  soldier. 

When  the  news  came  of  the  second  war  with  England,  which  was 
unknown  before  the  order  of  General  Hull  to  evacuate  the  fort,  there 
was  consternation  among  the  settlers  and  the  garrison.  On  the  I2th  ot 
August  a  council  of  Pottawatomies  was  called  by  order  of  Captain 
Heald,  and  he  and  Mr.  Kinzie  met  the  Indians  outside  the  palisades. 


22  FROM  A  LOG  HUT  TO  A  METROPOLIS. 

At  this  interview  certain  promises  were  made  to  the  Indians.  The  sur- 
plus supplies  of  the  garrison  were  to  be  distributed  among  them,  includ- 
ing arms  and  ammunition,  also  a  gift  of  money.  The  council  broke  up 
with  apparent  satisfaction  to  all  parties  concerned.  Soon  the  Indians 
heard,  through  the  wily  Tecumseh,  that  the  Americans  had  suffered 
defeat  in  some  important  engagements  with  the  British,  and  they  were 
told  that  the  time  had  come  to  rise  in  their  wrath,  avenge  the  wrongs 
they  had  suffered,  and  drive  the  white  people  forever  from  their  hunting 
grounds.  The  effect  of  this  was  electric,  and  the  slumbering  hostility  of 
the  red  man  burst  into  a  lurid  flame. 

Captain  Heald  had  committed  the  great  mistake  of  promising  to  dis- 
tribute the  surplus  arms  and  ammunition,  and  knew  if  he  kept  his  prom- 
ise he  would  be  in  a  poor  condition  to  defend  the  fort.  He  therefore 
resolved  to  distribute  the  provisions  only,  and  destroy  the  arms  and 
ammunition  in  order  that  they  might  not  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
The  secret,  however,  leaked  out,  for  as  the  Indians  were  prowling  about 
they  discovered  in  an  old  well,  and  other  hiding-places,  canteens,  flint- 
locks, powder-flasks,  and  broken  muskets.  They  were  not  long  in  guess- 
ing what  had  taken  place,  and  rinding  that  Captain  Heald  had  broken  his 
part  of  the  agreement  they  were  greatly  enraged.  They  considered 
themselves  victims  of  the  white  man's  treachery.  Nothing  now  remained 
but  a  bloody  combat,  and  it  was  certain  that  this  would  come  sooner  or 
later,  and  would  be  attended  with  loss  of  life. 

Remarkable  Speech  of  an  Indian  Chief. 

The  Chief,  Black  Partridge,  who  had  always  been  very  friendly  with 
the  settlers  now  turned  to  a  bitter  foe.  He  had  received  a  medal  pre- 
sented to  him  by  Gen.  Wayne  when  the  treaty  was  signed  which  deeded 
Chicago  to  the  government.  In  a  very  dignified  way  he  returned  the 
medal  to  Captain  Heald  with  these  words :  "  My  young  men  say  that 
they  have  been  betrayed.  You  have  destroyed  the  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion which  you  promised  to  leave  here  for  us.  My  braves  are  resolved 
upon  taking  your  lives.  I  cannot  restrain  them.  I  return  you  the 
token  of  peace,  for  I  will  not  wear  it  while  I  am  compelled  to  act  as  an 
enemy."  This  was  nothing  less  than  a  declaration  of  war.  The  situ- 
ation of  Fort  Dearborn  and  its  occupants  was  critical  in  the  extreme. 

Captain  Wells,  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Heald,  was  Indian  Agent  at  Fort 
Wayne.  He  understood  well  the  Indian  character,  for  he  had  lived 
among  the  Miamis,  by  whom  he  was  stolen  when  he  was  a  lad  twelve 
years  old.  He  grew  up  with  this  tribe,  saw  many  examples  of  Indian 
cunning  and  heroism,  and  had  even  joined  the  Indians  in  some  of  their 


FROM  A  LOG  HUT  TO  A  METROPOLIS. 


23 


attacks  upon  the  white  settlers.  The  famous  chief  of  the  Miamis,  Little 
Turtle,  adopted  him  as  an  own  son,  and  we  have  in  the  history  of  this 
man  an  instance  of  the  romance  of  Indian  life,  and  at  the  same  time  an 
example  of  the  permanent  character  of  early  teachings  and  associations. 
One  might  say  he  grew  up  an  Indian  and  still  was  a  white  man.  He  had 
been  for  years  in  captivity,  but  at  the  proper  time  his  love  for  his  own 
kindred  caused  him  to  seek  the  welfare  of  the  white  settlers  and  to 
espouse  their  cause. 

On  the  evening  of  the  1 3th  of  August,  Captain  Wells  arrived  at  the 
fort,  bringing  with  him  thirty  friendly  Miamis.  The  great  question  now 
was  how  to  escape.  There  was  no  hope  for  the  garrison  except  by  a 
sudden  departure, 
and  this  bold  move 
was  speedily  deter- 
mined upon.  Prep- 
arations were  made 
to  carry  it  out,  with 
the  perfect  under- 
standing that  it 
would  possibly 
result  in  the  death 
of  the  entire  com- 
mand. The  fam- 
ily of  John  Kinzie 
was  left  in  charge 
of  some  friendly 
Indians,  and  he 
resolved  to  accom- 
pany the  troops  in 
the  hope  that  hav- 
ing great  influence 
with  the  Indians  he 
would  be  able  to  -prevent  an  attack.  The  garrison  left  the  fort  on 
the  morning  of  the  I5th.  A  strange  premonition  of  their  impending 
doom  cast  a  gloom  over  the  entire  company.  Before  they  marched 
out  of  the  fort  the  band  played  the  "  Dead  March."  Outside  was  the 
trackless  forest,  filled  with  lurking  foes ;  far  beyond  was  the  destination 
of  the  garrison,  and  not  one  of  them  expected  to  reach  it  alive.  Captain 
Wells,  with  his  little  band,  led  the  way,  and  it  is  said  had  blackened  his 
face  in  token  of  his  impending  fate.  The  reader  may  well  pause  here 
before  the  thrilling  scene  and  learn  at  what  a  cost  the  early  pioneers  pur- 


GENERAL  ANTHONY  WAYNE. 


FROM  A  LOG  HUT  TO  A  METROPOLIS.  25 

chased  the  territory  which   now  waves   with   golden  harvests   and  lifts 
toward  heaven  the  spires  of  its  busy  cities. 

The  lurking  foe  was  not  far  distant ;  as  the  garrison  moved  southward 
along  the  shore  of  the  lake  five  hundred  Indians  lay  in  ambush  over  a 
ridge  but  a  short  distance  away.  Their  scouts  had  brought  them  news 
of  what  was  going  on,  and  having  been  betrayed  as  they  believed,  and 
having  declared  war,  they  were  ready  for  the  massacre.  The  troops  had 
not  proceeded  more  than  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  fort  before  they  were 
attacked.  What  was  a  mere  handful  of  men,  though  brave  as  lions,  when 
confronted  by  such  overwhelming  odds  ?  The  battle  was  not  a  long  one. 
It  was  short,  sharp  and  bloody.  The  troops  believed  that  to  surrender 
meant  death,  and  having  nothing  to  hope  for  they  fought  with  desperation. 

Inhuman  Butchery. 

While  the  battle  was  in  progress  one  of  the  most  dastardly  and  inhu- 
man deeds  ever  recorded  was  committed  by  a  young  Indian.  Twelve 
defenceless  children  were  among  the  occupants  in  the  fort,  and  these  were 
brought  out  with  the  garrison  and  placed  in  a  wagon  by  themselves  in 
the  hope  that  their  lives  at  least  might  be  spared.  The  young  Indian 
leaped  into  the  wagon  and  tomahawked  every  one  of  them.  Brutal 
savagery  of  Indian  warfare  had  done  its  worst.  Right  and  left  on  every 
side  the  troops  were  slain.  Captain  Wells,  who  fought  with  such 
bravery  as  might  have  been  expected  from  a  man  who  knew  his  last 
hour  was  at  hand,  at  last  fell,  and  his  body  was  cut  to  pieces. 

Captain  Heald  was  wounded  early  in  the  fight,  but  with  a  few  of  his 
men  succeeded  in  gaining  a  little  knoll,  there  made  a  stand  and  sent  a 
half-breed  boy  to  Chief  Blackbird  with  an  offer  to  surrender  on  condition 
that  their  lives  were  spared.  Savage  ferocity  was  partially  satisfied,  and 
the  terrible  scenes  of  the  massacre  were  over. 

This  struggle  occurred  on  the  very  spot  where  some  of  the  streets  of 
Chicago  intersect  one  another  to-day.  It  is  related  that  at  the  beginning 
of  the  massacre  the  Miamis  who  were  led  by  Captain  Wells  fled 
for  their  lives,  while  the  Captain  started  for  the  tent  where  the  Indians  had 
left  their  squaws  and  children,  pursued  closely  by  the  Pottawatomies. 

Daring  Deeds  of  "Women. 

"  He  laid  himself  flat  on  the  neck  of  his  horse,  loading  and  firing  in 
that  position,  as  he  would  occasionally  turn  on  his  pursuers.  At  length 
his  horse  was  killed  under  him,  and  he  was  seriously  wounded.  While 
a  couple  of  friendly  Indians  were  trying  to  drag  him  to  a  place  of  safety 
he  was  stabbed  in  the  back  and  killed.  It  is  said  the  Indians  took  out 


28 


FROM  A  LOG  HUT  TO  A  METROPOLIS. 


and  Mr.  Astor  was  laying  the  foundations   of  the  fortune,  which  has 
made  his  family  one  of  the  wealthiest  in  the  world. 

Only  once  a  year  did  the  Government  send  provisions  and  other  nec- 
essary supplies  to  the  fort.  These  were  brought  in  a  small  schooner. 
On  Mr.  Hubbard's  arrival  in  1818  he  found  only  two  families  at  Chicago 
besides  the  troops.  The  residents  were  Mr.  John  Kinzie,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  river  on  a  line  with  what  is  now  Michigan  Avenue,  and  the 
family  of  a  French  trader  who  had  married  an  Indian  woman  and  lived 
but  a  short  distance  from  Mr.  Kinzie.  It  was  not  until  1823  that  another 
white  family  made  its  appearance.  The  new  resident  was  Archibald 
Claybourne,  who  lived  in  Chicago  continuously  until  his  death  in  1872. 
His  business  was  that  of  butcher  for  the  fort. 

Thus  in  i827,when  Chicago  was  visited  by  Major  Long,  on  a  Govern- 
ment exploring  expedition,  the  residents  comprised  only  three  families. 
Major  Long  was  very  unfavorably  impressed  with  the  place  and  so 
reported  to  the  Government.  Like  all  others  at  this  early  period  he 
failed  to  foresee  the  importance  of  the  point,  and  had  no  thought  that 
here  would  one  day  stand  the  greatest  city  in  the  West. 

He   said  in   his    reports   that 
Chicago  presented   no  cheering 
prospects,  and  "  contained  but  a 
few  huts  inhabited  by  a  miser- 
able race  of  men  scarcely  equal 
to     the    Indians      from     whom 
they     had      descended,    while" 
their       "houses        were        low, 
not     the     least    trace    of     corn- 
affording    no    inducement    to 


COAT    OF    ARMS    OF    ILLINOIS. 


as 


filthy,  and  disgusting,  displaying 
fort."  He  spoke  of  the  place 
the  settler,  "  the  whole  amount  of  trade  on  the  lake  not  exceeding  the 
cargoes  of  five  or  six  schooners,  even  at  the  time  when  the  garrison 
received  its  supplies  from  the  Macinac."  This  gloomy  picture  stands 
to-day  in  striking  contrast  with  the  changes  which  have  been  wrought 
by  a  few  brief  years.  Our  country's  marvelous  growth  has  been  the 
wonder  of  the  world,  and  in  no  locality  has  it  been  more  clearly  seen 
than  in  the  vicinity  of  Chicago. 

Special  mention  should  be  made  of  the  important  part  enacted  by 
John  Kinzie,  whose  old  log  house  stood  for  many  years  unmolested  by 
the  Indians.  It  was  free  from  the  attacks  made  upon  homes  of  other 
settlers,  and  its  occupants  seemed  to  have  a  special  exemption  from  the 
bloody  raids  inflicted  upon  other  residents,  and  accompanied  by  the  des- 
truction of  life  and  property.  This  shows  plainly  the  esteem  in  which 


FROM  A  LOG  HUT  TO  A  METROPOLIS. 


29 


the  silversmith  was  held  by  the  savages.  During  the  year  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1828,  the  Pottawatomies  made  a  treaty  with  the  gov- 
ernment and  inserted  a  provision  which  gave  to  Eleanor  Kinzie,  and  her 
four  children  by  the  late  John  Kinzie,  $3,500,  in  consideration  of  the 
attachment  of  the  Indians  to  her  deceased  husband. 

Meanwhile  the  settlement  grew  after  Kinzie's  death.  Some  of  the 
more  powerful  Indian  tribes  had  been  swept  away,  their  wigwams  had 
been  burned,  their  villages  were  blotted  out,  the  smoke  of  their  council 


MAP    MADE     IN      1830,     SHOWING    MOUTH    OF    CHICAGO    RIVER 
WITH    PIERS    FOR    IMPROVING    THE    HARBOR. 

fires  no  longer  ascended,  the  forests  were  turned  into  fruitful  farms, 
prairies  gave  signs  of  a  new  life,  and  new  dwellings  and  villages  sprang  up 
in  all  directions.  The  Indians  pursued  the  policy  of  peace  ;  their  chiefs 
visited  the  fort  and  by  the  firesides  of  former  acquaintances  talked  over  the 
tragedies  in  which  they  had  been  equal  sufferers  with  the  white  settlers. 
Among  these  warriors  was  Black  Partridge,  whose  name  at  one  time  was 


80 


FROM  A  LOG  HUT  TO  A  METROPOLIS. 


a  tower  of  strength,  but  who  now  was  a  sad  and  broken-hearted  old  man. 
The  tide  of  emigration  flowed  strongly  towards  the  West.  A 
Homestead  Act  was  passed  by  the  government  which  invited  settlers  from 
far  and  near.  The  State  of  Illinois  was  admitted  into  the  Union  in  1818. 
Ever  since  it  has  been  a  very  prosperous  state,  and  its  rich  lands  have 
yielded  abundant  reward  to  those  who  have  tilled  them.  During  all 
the  time,  Chicago  was  becoming  more  important  as  a  centre  of  trade  and 
business.  In  short  its  growth  has  been  like  that  of  all  our  western  towns, 
situated  upon  navigable  waters  with  fertile  sections  of  country  lying  back 
of  them.  It  is  interesting  to  mark  the  rapid  changes  which  have  taken 
place.  The  first  log  cabin  gave  way  to  a  more  costly  and  congenial  resi 


CHICAGO    IN    1833. 

dence.  Farms  were  pushed  farther  and  farther  into  the  wilderness,  villages 
with  schools,  churches,  stores  and  public  libraries  sprang  up,  and  our 
country,  which  but  a  little  time  ago  was  uncivilized  and  uninhabited  by 
white  men,  has  taken  its  high  rank  among  the  nations  of  the  earth,  largely 
through  the  toils  and  sacrifices,  the  energy  and  thrift  of  the  sturdy  race 
that  has  been  constantly  planting  itself  along  our  frontiers. 

From  time  to  time  public  improvements  were  sanctioned,  among  which 
in  1829  was  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal.  In  1831  the  County  of 
Cook  was  organized  and  Chicago  was  made  the  county  seat.  The  town 
was  incorporated  in  1833  with  twenty-eight  voters.  Its  first  trustees 
were:^  T.  J.  V.  Owen,  George  W.  Dole,  Madore  B.  Beaubien,  John 
Miller  and  I-:.  S.  Kimberly.  Four  years  later  when  the  first  census  was 


FROM  A  LOG  HUT  TO  A  METROPOLIS. 


31 


taken  there  was  a  population  of  4,170.  This  included  '140  sailors  belong- 
ing to  vessels  owned  by  residents  of  the  place.  Thus  early  do  we 
discover  the  rapid  growth  which  has  always  distinguished  Chicago,  and 
we  also  see  that  it  was  fast  becoming  a  place  of  commercial  importance. 

This  history  is  darkened  all  along  by  border  warfare,  the  Indians 
resisting  every  attempt  to  displace  them.  Blacfe  Hawk  was  a  famous 
chief  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  Indians  and  was  born  in  1767.  He  joined  the 
British  in  1812  and,  opposing  the  removal  west  of  his  tribe,  fought 
against  the  United  States  in  1832.  This  is  known  as  the  year  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War,  the  year  that  General  Scott's  army  arrived,  bringing 
with  it  that  terrible 
scourge,  the  Asiatic  chol- 
era, which  was  its  first 
appearance  in  America. 

In  Hurlbut's  work  en- 
titled, "  Chicago  and  its 
Antiquities,"  we  find  this 
statement : 

"  It  will  be  proper  to 
say  that  the  spring  of 
that  year  had  not  passed 
without  finding  Chicago 
in  a  condition  of  unusual 
excitement.  Several 
murders  had  been  com- 
mitted by  Indians  (tli2 
Sauks,  from  the  west  side 
of  the  Mississippi)  amon  j 
the  whites  of  Northern 
Illinois,  and  the  scat- 
tered settlers  had  flocked 
in  from  various  locali- 
ties to  Fort  Dearborn,  BLACK  HAWK. 
which  they  believed  to  be  the  only  place  of  available  security.  No 
United  States  soldiers  had  occupied  the  Fort  during  the  past  winter,  and 
Chicago,  it  is  said,  numbered  then  only  about  fifty  residents.  But  the 
dangers  and  alarms  referred  to  had  sent  in  a  crowd  of  refugees,  and  the 
forepart  of  the  month  of  May  found  Fort  Dearborn  peopled  with  some  six 
or  seven  hundred  persons.  But  Illinois  and  Michigan  troops,  organized 
for  protection  against  the  foe,  and  General  Scott,  who  arrived  in  the 
month  of  July  with  U.  S.  soldiers,  though  his  force  was  more  than 


82  FROM  A  LOG  HUT  TO  A  METROPOLIS. 

decimated  by  the  cholera,  marched  after  the  red-skins,  and  the  settlers 
returned  to  their  homes  on  the  prairie." 

An  early  comer  tells  of  a  cholera  incident  of  1833  as  related  to  him 
by  a  sergeant  in  Fort  Dearborn  whose  name  was  Carpenter.  It  was 
after  General  Scott's  arrival  and  the  stricken  troops  were  fast  dying  with 
the  dreadful  disease.  Sergeant  Carpenter  was  on  duty  one  morning 
when  two  soldiers  apparently  dead  were  ordered  to  be  taken  out  and 
thrown  into  the  dead-pit.  This  grave  or  pit  was  a  large  excavation 
near  Wabash  Avenue,  not  far  from  the  river.  The  stretchers  were 
brought  and  the  bodies  were  taken  out  to  the  hole  and  one  of  them 
thrown  in.  When  they  moved  towards  the  other  to  put  him  in,  the  man 
turned  his  head  and  shoulders  showing  plainly  that  he  was  alive.  The 
sergeant  gave  utterance  to  the  sensible  remark,  "  This  man  is  not  ready 
to  be  buried  yet,"  and  ordered  him  to  be  taken  back.  The  fresh  air  had 
revived  him  and  given  to  the  supposed  dead  man  a  new  lease  of  life,  for 
he  afterwards  recovered. 

The  troops  were  permanently  withdrawn  from  Fort  Dearborn,  Decem- 
ber 29,  1836;  the  military  post  was  forever  abandoned  and  the  stirring 
events  connected  with  it  passed  into  history.  The  last  drum  had  been 
beaten,  the  last  bugle  blast  had  been  blown,  the  last  gun  had  been  fired, 
and  the  famous  old  fort  was  no  longer  to  be  associated  with  frontier  war- 
fare. A  great  City  was  struggling  for  existence  on  this  historic  spot. 

A  Mail  Once  in  Two  Weeks. 

With  the  tons  of  mail  matter  now  emptied  into  Chicago  every  week, 
it  seems  almost  beyond  belief  that  sixty  years  ago  the  place  was  without 
a  post  office,  and  no  mail  matter  was  received  except  once  in  two  weeks, 
when  it  was  brought  by  a  half-breed  Indian  from  Niles,  Michigan.  The 
year  1833  is  memorable  from  the  fact  that  the  first  newspaper  was  then 
established,  to  which  was  given  the  name  of  the  "  Chicago  Democrat." 
Looking  at  its  columns  now  we  find  descriptions  of  bear  and  wolf  hunts 
which  took  place  within  the  limits  of  the  town.  One  would  have  to 
travel  hundreds  of  miles  now  to  find  any  such  sport  as  that  which  was 
obtained  by  the  early  settlers  at  their  very  doors.  Work  at  this  time  was 
going  on  in  the  construction  of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal  and  the 
necessity  of  pushing  it  forward  was  urged  in  the  columns  of  the  news- 
paper. 

The  arrival  of  a  schooner  was  so  important  an  event  that  it  was  duly 
chronicled.  Special  mention  is  made  of  the  fact  that  during  1834  a 
schooner  arrived  every  week  from  Lake  Frie  and  was  unloaded  outside 
the  bar,  but  a  freshet  swept  away  the  bar  that  had  prevented  vessels  from 


FROM  A  LOG  HUT  TO  A  METROPOLIS.  33 

entering  the  mouth  of  the  river  and  the  schooner  "  Illinois  "  sailed  up 
into  the  town.  This  was  the  little  pioneer  which  led  the  way  for  hund- 
reds of  vessels  that  now  arrive  every  year.  The  Northern  lakes  are 
alive  with  craft  sailing  either  to  or  from  Chicago. 

Even  before  this  time  the  various  religious  denominations  had  made 
their  appearance.  It  has  been  already  stated  that  the  first  white  man  to 
visit  the  locality  was  a  Jesuit  missionary,  and  as  soon  as  a  resident 
population  was  planted  the  religious  sects  began  to  build  their  houses  of 
worship.  So  that  in  1834  the  Catholic,  Baptist,  Methodist  and  Presby- 
terian churches  were  all  represented.  One  of  the  chief  occurrences 


GREEN    TREE    HOUSE,  THE    FIRST    HOTEL    BUILT    IN   CHICAGO. 

during  the  year  1836  was  the  building  and  launching  of  a  ship.    In  addi- 
tion to  this,  steps  were  taken  to  incorporate  Chicago  as  a  city. 

It  is  interesting  to  observe  that  at  this  early  period  speculation  in  real 
estate  made  men  as  crazy  as  it  has  at  any  time  within  recent  years. 
Large  transactions  were  carried  on,  sudden  sales  were  made,  men  grew 
rich  with  startling  rapidity,  and  there  were  times  when  the  business  por- 
tion of  the  town  was  greatly  excited  over  the  rise  in  building  lots  and 
the  opportunities  thus  afforded  for  making  sudden  fortunes.  There 
came  a  panic  in  1837  and  the  "  boom  "  collapsed.  The  prosperty  of  the 
place  appeared  to  be  checked  for  the  time  being,  but  there  was  no  loss 
in  the  end,  as  false  business  methods  were  corrected,  the  weak  places 


34  FROM  A  LOG  HUT  TO  A  METROPOLIS. 

were  found  out  and  strengthened,  and,  instead  of  trusting  to  fictitious 
values,  the  commercial  transactions  of  the  city  were  placed  upon  a  sub- 
stantial and  better  basis.  The  vast  increase  in  Chicago  real  estate  is 
shown  from  the  fact  that  in  1832  two  lots  which  were  worth  $102.00 
sold  in  1853  for  $108,000.  During  this  latter  year  the  Kinzies  sold  a 
plot  of  ground  for  $540,000,  which  in  1832  was  valued  at  $346.  Probably 
no  such  rise  in  the  value  of  property  has  ever  been  recorded  in  any  other 
city  of  the  United  States. 

Chicago  continued  to  grow  and  enjoyed  unexampled  prosperity  until 
the  year  1849,  when  it  was  visited  by  a  disastrous  flood.  It  will  be  seen 
that  the  place  was  not  exempt  from  those  great  and  sudden  freshets 
which  are  common  in  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Valleys.  In  the  South 
Branch  of  the  Chicago  River  an  ice  gorge  had  been  formed.  This  was 
suddenly  broken  up  by  an  overflow  in  the  Desplaines  River.  With  irre- 
sistible force  the  great  mass  swept  onward  toward  the  lake.  The  only 
bridge  the  city  had  at  this  time  was  carried  away,  and  more  than  forty 
vessels  that  had  win'cred  in  the  lake  were  crushed  and  totally  wrecked. 


CHAPTER  II. 
Rapid  Growth  of  Chicago  and  the  Great  Fire  of  1871. 

NO  man  can  go  into  an  uninhabited  territory,  drive  down  stakes, 
mark  out  streets,  and  say,"  Here- is  to  be  a  great  city."    Such 
manufactured   towns  generally  prove   to   be   failures.     Cities 
spring  up  and  grow  where  they  will,  and  the  laws  that  govern 
their  rise  and  progress   are  not  in  any  one  man's  mind,  nor  are  they 
written  among  the  statutes  of  state  legislatures.     Often  it  has  happened 
that  the  site  on  which  a  metropolis  was  expected  to  stand  has  been  over- 
grown with  weeds,  the  dreams  of  land  speculators  have   vanished  into 
empty  air ;  and  on  the  other  hand,  the  log  cabin  and  the  little  village  of 
which  no  one  took  account,  have  multiplied  and  grown  until  they  have 
developed  into  towns  of  immense  wealth  and  vast  population. 

The  first  houses  of  Chicago  had  very  insecure  foundations.  They 
were  built  on  piles ;  they  were  houses  on  stilts,  as  it  were  ;  they  were 
without  cellars,  for  the  reason  that  the  ground  was  swampy.  The  low 
marshland  had  to  be  conquered  and  drained  before  any  buildings  could 
be  erected  with  basements  or  secure  foundations.  In  those  early  days  it 
was  nothing  unusual  while  passing  along  the  miry  streets  to  see  a  post 
erected  with  the  inscription  on  it,  "  No  bottom  here."  Along  the  roadside 
might  frequently  be  seen  stagnant  pools  of  water  and  ditches  whose  depth 
was  very  suspicious.  Then  came  the  era  of  plank  walks  and  roads,  but 
when  heavy  rains  flooded  the  district  the  whole  place  was  turned  into  a 
quagmire,  teams  and  loaded  vehicles  were  often  stuck  in  the  mud,  and 
no  one  would  at  that  time  have  imagined  that  the  marsh  could  ever  be 
utilized  as  it  has  been  for  the  foundation  of  substantial  buildings.  What 
was  called  "canal  cholera  "was  prevalent,  malaria  was  common,  and 
life  was  a  constant  fight  against  diseases  which  were  developed  by  the 
peculiar  surroundings,  which  were  a  constant  menace  to  settlers. 

A  Troublesome  Sand-Bar. 

The  great  obstacle  to  a  commodious  harbor  was  the  sand-bar  which 
closed  up  the  mouth  of  the  Chicago  River.  There  were  times  of  low 
water  in  the  lake  when  none  flowed  over  this  bar.  Ships  were  compelled 
to  anchor  outside  and  unload  as  quickly  as  possible,  for  if  a  storm  were  to 

sweep  down  the  lake  they  would  be  driven  on  the  shore. 

35 


36  RAPID  GROWTH  OF  CHICAGO  AND  THE  GREAT  FIRE. 

At  a  very  early  period  remonstrances  were  made  to  the  government 
agai'nst  allowing  this  bar  to  remain,  one  having  been  sent  by  an  Indian 
agent  in  1 805 ,  urging  the  opening  of  the  mouth  of  the  river  so  as  to  allow 
the  vessels  to  come  in  from  the  lake.  This  lack  of  harbor  facilities  was 
a  problem  which  puzzled  the  inhabitants  of  Chicago,  and  for  many  years 
their  efforts  to  induce  the  government  to  take  some  action  were  unvail- 
ing.  Finally,  in  1833,  Congress  did  appropriate  $2 5,000  for  the  improve- 
ment of  the  harbor,  and  the  work  was  immediately  commenced.  By  degrees 
the  sand-bar  was  removed,  but  the  great  lake  rolling  in  its  waters  was  a 
stubborn  thing  to  resist,  for  as  soon  as  one  bar  was  removed  others  began 
forming  farther  out.  Up  to  1844  about  $250,000  had  been  expended,  yet 
with  very  little  practical  benefit  to  the  city. 

In  1846  a  proposition  for  a  new  appropriation  was  made  in  Congress, 
was  strongly  advocated  by  Daniel  Webster,  and  was  passed,  but  was 
vetoed  by  President  Polk.  The  unexpected  opposition  of  the  President 
produced  great  excitement  among  all  classes  of  citizens. 

The  People  Up  In  Arms. 

This  action  of  Congress  was  bitterly  resented  in  the  northwest,  and 
the  incident  is  interesting  as  showing  the  resolute  spirit  which  even  at 
that  time  animated  the  people  of  Chicago.  The  improvements  in  their 
harbor  became  almost  a  national  question,  and  they  determined  to  carry 
their  point.  A  great  River  and  Harbor  Convention  was  held  on  the  5th 
of  July,  1847,  at  which  delegates  were  present  from  all  parts  of  the  coun- 
try, as  if  it  were  important  to  the  whole  United  States  that  the  little 
town  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  should  have  a  harbor.  The 
broader  question  was  that  of  internal  improvements  and  the  policy  of  the 
government  respecting  them.  Twenty  thousand  people  assembled  on 
this  occasion  and  the  convention  lasted  for  three  days.  A  very  strong 
demand  was  embodied  in  the  resolutions  which  were  forwarded  to  Con- 
gress, yet,  although  the  younger  states  of  the  West  were  unanimous  in 
their  demand,  no  additional  appropriation  was  made  for  harbor  improve- 
ments until  1852.  Since  1866  repeated  appropriations  have  been  made 
and  the  liberal  policy  of  the  government  has  been  a  great  commercial 
advantage  to  many  of  our  inland  cities. 

The  enterprising  people  of  Chicago  did  not  wait  for  relief  to  come 
from  Washington,  but  began  at  once  to  carry  out  as  far  as  they  could 
the  object  in  view.  They  provided  for  the  dredging  of  the  river,  the 
widening  of  it  in  several  places,  and  the  building  of  wharves,  which  at 
the  present  time  have  a  length  of  not  less  than  fifteen  miles.  All  the 
labor  and  money  expended  must  be  considered  as  well  invested,  for 


X 


RAPID  GROWTH  OF  CHICAGO  AND  THE  GREAT  FIRE.  37 

Chicago  has  a  harbor  which  affords  ample  accommodations  for  ships  in 
stormy  weather. 

These  improvements  have  been  a  great  commercial  advantage  and  one 
secret  of  the  rapid  growth  of  the  city.  As  already  stated,  in  1837  the 
population  was  a  little  over  4,000;  in  eleven  years  from  that  time  it  had 
grown  to  20,000,  while  in  the  next  seventeen  years  it  increased  to 
178,000,  this  being  the  number  in  1865.  The  great  civil  war  having 
ended,  Chicago  started  on  a  new  career  of  prosperity,  and  since  has 
shown  such  rapid  strides  as  almost  to  defy  computation. 

How  to  Keep  the  City  Clean. 

Another  problem,  and  one  concerning  very  materially  the  health  of 
the  city,  was  the  matter  of  sewage.  For  a  long  time  this  was  emptied 
into  the  river,  the  filthy  condition  of  which  became  more  abominable  as 
the  population  increased.  Stagnant  water — black,  oily  and  breeding 
disease — threatened  continually  the  health  and  well-being  of  the  town. 
The  fish  could  not  live  in  the  water ;  the  stench  in  the  summer  season 
was  outrageous,  and  it  became  evident  that  something  must  be  done. 
The  only  way  to  remedy  the  evil  was  to  deepen  the  Canal  in  order  to 
bring  a  flow  of  water  from  this  and  the  Chicago  River  into  the  Illinois 
River.  The  city  began  this  work  in  1865  and  completed  it  in  1871,  just 
before  the  great  fire  broke  out. 

No  sooner  were  the  conditions  of  health  made  favorable  than  the  ter- 
rible calamity  occurred  which  destroyed  almost  untold  millions  of  prop- 
erty. While  it  is  true  that  scarcely  ever  did  a  city  suffer  more  from 
misfortunes  of  one  kind  or  another,  it  is  equally  true  that  no  other  has 
ever  shown  greater  ability  to  overcome  them.  Chicago  is  not  only  a 
marvel  of  growth,  but  of  energy  and  enterprise.  Its  schemes  are  broad 
and  great  like  the  vast  country  around  it  and  the  immense  lakes  which 
feed  its  commerce. 

A   Growth   Hard   to   Account   For. 

This  rapid  sketch  showing  the  rise  and  growth  of  the  Metropolis  of 
the  West  recalls  the  language  of  Mr.  Parton,  who,  in  speaking  of  the 
influx  of  population,  says  : 

"  The  motive  must  have  been  powerful  which  could  induce  such  large 
numbers  of  people  to  settle  upon  that  most  uninviting  shore.  A  new 
town  on  a  flat  prairie,  as  seen  from  car  windows,  has  usually  the  aspect 
which  is  described  as  God-forsaken.  Wagon-w heels  had  obliterated  the 
only  beauty  the  prairie  ever  had,  and  streaked  it  wi:h  an  excellent  article 
of  blacking.  There  may  have  been  twenty  little  wooden  houses  in  the 
place  ;  but  it  is  '  laid  out '  with  all  the  rigor  of  mathematics ;  and  every 


38  RAPID  GROWTH  OF  CHICAGO  AND  THE  GREAT  FIRE, 

visible  object,  whether  animate  or  inanimate — the  pigs  that  root  In  the 
soft,  black,  prairie  mire,  the  boys,  the  horses,  the  wagons,  the  houses,  the 
fences,  the  school- houses,  the  steps  of  the  stores,  the  railroad  platform, 
are  all  powdered  or  plastered  with  disturbed  prairies.  If,  filled  with 
compassion  for  the  unhappy  beings  whom  stern  fate  seems  to  have  cast 
out  upon  that  dismal  plain,  far  from  the  abodes  of  men,  the  traveller 
enters  into  conversation  with  them,  he  finds  them  all  hope  and  animation, 
and  disposed  to  pity  him  because  he  neither  owns  any  corner  lots  in  that 
future  metropolis,  nor  has  intellect  enough  to  see  what  a  speculation  it 
would  be  to  buy  a  few.  What  a  pity  !  You  might;  as  well  pity  the 
Prince  of  Wales  because  he  is  not  yet  king." 

Mud  and  "Water. 

But,  for  all  the  hope  and  animation  of  the  inhabitants,  for  many 
years,  in  all  prairie  towns  it  was  shunned  the  most  by  those  who  were 
looking  for  the  pleasant  and  the  beautiful  and  no  wonder,  if  there  be 
any  truth  in  the  following  quotation  also  from  Mr.  Parton  :  "  The  prairie 
on  that  part  of  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  appears  to  the  eye  as  flat  as 
the  lake  itself,  and  its  average  height  above  the  lake  is  about  six  feet.  A 
gentleman,  who  arrived  at  Chicago  from  the  South  in  1833,  reports  that 
he  waded  the  last  eight  miles  of  his  journey  in  water  from  one  to  three 
feet  deep — a  sheet  of  water  extending  as  far  as  the  eye  would  reach  over 
what  is  now  the  most  fashionable  quarter  of  Chicago. 

Another  traveler  records  that,  in  1831,  in  riding  about  what  is  now 
the  very  center  and  heart  of  the  business  portion  of  the  city,  he  often  felt 
the  water  swashing  through  his  stirrups.  Even  in  dry  summer  weather 
that  part  of  the  prairie  was  very  wet,  and  during  the  rainy  season  no  one 
attempted  to  pass  over  it  on  foot.  "  I  would  not  have  given  sixpence  an 
acre  for  the  whole  of  it,"  said  a  gentleman,  speaking  of  land  much  of 
which  is  now  held  at  one  thousand  dollars  a  foot.  It  looked  so  unprom- 
ising to  farmers'  eyes,  that  Chicago  imported  a  considerable  part  of  its 
provisions  from  the  eastern  shores  of  Lake  Michigan  as  late  as  1838. 
This  Chicago  now  feeds  States  and  Kingdoms.' 

The  question  has  often  been  asked  why  the  growth  of  Chicago  was 
so  rapid.  We  do  not  look  for  an  inland  city  far  away  from  the  ocean 
front  to  show  such  a  miracle  of  expansion.  We  can  understand  why 
New  York  has  grown,  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  Boston,  Baltimore, 
and  other  eastern  cities.  They  have  a  water  front  which  invites  ships 
and  cargoes  from  all  parts  of  the  world.  They  are  also  beginning  to  be 
venerable  with  age,  and  to-day  they  show  the  effects  of  a  long  period  of 
commercial  enterprise. 


RAPID  GROWTH  OF  CHICAGO  AND  THE  GREAT  FIRE.  C9 

The  harbor  of  New  York  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  world.  A  stranger 
sailing  up  the  bay  finds  that  all  he  has  read  and  dreamed  concerning  our 
country's  growth  falls  short  of  the  reality,  as  standing  on  the  deck  of  his 
ship  he  gazes  out  upon  Long  Island,  Staten  Island,  the  magnificent  City 
of  Brooklyn,  the  islands  which  dot  the  bay,  the  historic  Hudson,  rolling 
its  waters  and  floating  its  vessels,  and  finally  the  splendid  metropolis 
whose  name  and  fame  are  world-wide.  Out  beyond  the  harbor  is  the 
Atlantic,  and  beyond  the  Atlantic  are  the  old  nations  of  the  globe.  New 
York  is  the  child  of  the  world's  commerce  and  of  its  own  natural  advan- 
tages. It  may  also  be  said  that  Chicago  never  could  have  had  such  an 
unparalleled  growth  except  for  the  commerce  of  the  great  lakes.  The 
mineral  and  lumber  regions  of  the  North  seem  to  have  made  a  pet  child 
of  the  city  and  have  smiled  upon  it  with  constant  favor.  Something  is 
doubtless  due  to  the  sturdy  character  and  vigorous  enterprise  of  the  first 
settlers  and  those  who  followed  them,  but  all  the  brain,  genius,  thrift  and 
energy  of  the  whole  country  could  not  build  a  great  city  on  a  site  where 
there  are  no  conditions  of  natural  growth. 

Chicago  is  also  the  great  market  for  a  vast  region  lying  south,  west, 
and  northwest.  The  vast  prairies,  with  their  harvests  waving  in  the  wind, 
are  like  the  billows  of  a  golden  sea.  Immense  products  of  wheat,  corn, 
and  other  cereals,  are  clamoring  for  a  market.  Away  in  the  southwest 
are  immense  ranches  where  herds  of  cattle  a  million  strong  are  getting 
ready  to  help  supply  the  wants  of  half  a  world.  Chicago  affords  the 
best  facilities  for  passing  on  these  products.  Its  great  pork-packing  estab- 
lishments have  grown  only  as  there  was  a  demand.  These  have  been 
the  marvel  of  Europeans  who  have  visited  the  place.  Nothing  to  equal 
them  can  be  found  in  either  hemisphere.  It  is  pretty  certain  that  a  large 
part  of  humanity  pays  little  heed  to  the  old  command  given  to  the  Hebrews 
not  to  eat  pork.  The  immense  trade  in  this  product  is  a  source  of  large 
revenue  and  has  added  greatly  to  the  wealth  of  the  city. 

Thousands  of  Miles  of  Railroad. 

Along  with  this  growth  the  great  railway  system  which  early  began  to 
center  in  Chicago  has  increased,  the  belts  of  steel  have  extended  farther 
toward  all  points  of  the  compass,  the  hiss  of  the  steam  has  been  con- 
stantly heard  in  new  territories,  along  fertile  valleys,  over  fruitful,  rolling 
lands,  until  now  the  railroad  facilities  for  transportation  are  unrivalled. 
Where  there  is  growth,  where  all  the  signs  of  prosperity  are  discovered, 
capital  is  sure  to  flow  in,  and  the  "sinews  of  war  "  help  on  the  rapid 
expansion.  Not  only  has  Chicago  a  direct  and  open  waterway  to  the 
sea,  but  it  is  to-day  the  center  of  a  country  which  supports  10,000,000 


40 


RAPID  GROWTH  OF  CHICAGO  AND  THE  GREAT  FIRE. 


people.  It  has  grown  no  more  rapidly  than  the  vast  region  around  it, 
which  twenty-five  years  ago  was  sparsely  settled  compared  with  what  it 
is  at  the  present  time. 

Moreover,  something  is  doubtless  due  to  the  climate  of  the  place. 
Even  a  "Windy  City"  has  its  advantages,  for  the  atmosphere  is  not  likely 
to  be  dead  and  unhealthful,  as  it  is  in  many  tropical  places.  Whatever 
else  may  be  said  of  the  climate  around  the  southern  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan,  it  has  a  certain  bracing  vigor.  Fresh  breezes  blow  in  from  the 


LAKE    STREET    IN    1 8^0. 

lake  during  the  summer  months,  and  the  winter  season  is  milder  than  in 
many  other  parts  of  the  West.  There  is  a  snap  and  go  in  the  very  atmos- 
phere. Health  is  braced  up  by  it  and  energies  which  in  a  softer  climate 
would  be  relaxed  are  here  nerved  for  effort  and  endurance. 

These  conditions  are  favorable  for  mental  and  physical  labor.  If  dust 
at  certain  seasons  flies  through  the  streets  and  all  the  elements  of  nature 
seem  to  be  wide-awake,  in  like  manner  men,  too,  are  wide-wake  and  far 
removed  from  stagnation.  Notwithstanding  the  location  of  the  city,  the 
swamp  upon  which  it  is  built  and  the  malaria  which  formerly  troubled 
it,  it  is  one  of  the  healthiest  cities  in  the  world. 


RAPID  GROWTH  OF  CHICAGO  AND  THE  GREAT  FIRE.  41 

There  are  many  advantages  in  a  town  which  has  its  elevations  and 
broken  surfaces.  Boston,  for  example,  has  its  high  points ;  the  Bos- 
tonian  must  know  how  to  go  up  and  down.  Such  a  place  has  special 
advantages  for  getting  rid  of  the  sewage  which,  if  not  conducted  freely, 
would  become  a  breeder  of  disease. 

Yet  some  of  the  largest  and  healthiest  cities  in  the  world  are  built  on 
i  level  sities.  This  is  especially  true  of  Philadelphia  where  the  death  rate 
is  nearly  as  low  as  that  of  any  other  city  in  the  country.  Much,  then, 
depends  upon  the  way  in  which  a  town  is  built  and  the  provisions  made 
for  the  health  and  comfort  of  its  inhabitants.  For  a  long  time  the 
sewage  question  puzzled  the  people  of  Chicago,  but  knowing  that  the 
welfare  and  prosperity  of  the  town  were  at  stake,  they  grappled  with  the 
problem  and  found  a  satisfactory  solution.  The  river,  which  at  one 
time  was  ridiculed  as  being  little  better  than  a  ditch,  has  been  turned 
into  a  useful  servant  and  made  to  work  for  the  benefit  of  a  million 
people.  It  forms  a  natural  channel,  and  being  divided  into  two  branches, 
it  is  the  outlet  to  a  large  extent  of  territory. 

Erection  of  Pumping  Works. 

Formerly  the  river  was  very  slow  in  its  movements,  and  a  plan  was 
devised  for  quickening  its  current.  Chicago  is  satisfied  with  nothing 
that  is  sluggish.  Pumping  works  were  built  at  Bridgeport  and  Fuller- 
ton  Avenue.  At  the  former  of  these,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the 
city,  the  water  is  thrown  out  of  the  river  into  the  Illinois  and  Michigan 
Canal  at  the  rate  of  40,000  cubic  feet  per  minute.  The  other  pumping 
station,  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  city,  supplies  fresh  water  in  suffi- 
cient quantities  to  turn  the  current  of  the  river  from  the  lake.  Improve- 
ments have  been  carried  on  in  this  system,  and  the  recent  construction 
of  a  gravity  channel  helps  to  cleanse  the  city  and  relieve  it  from  all 
danger  of  any  widespread  epidemic.  It  is  possible  that  in  the  near  future, 
by  the  aid  of  the  National  Government,  the  canal  will  be  made  navigable 
from  Lake  Michigan  to  the  Mississippi. 

A  good  deal  of  ingenuity  has  been  displayed  in  furnishing  the  city 
with  an  ample  supply  of  pure  fresh  water.  Previous  to  the  year  1854, 
water  had  been  pumped  out  of  the  lake  close  to  the  shore.  Water, 
however,  next  to  the  shore  was  polluted  at  this  time  by  the  filth  from  the 
city ;  and  the  question  was  how  to  overcome  and  remedy  the  difficulty. 
A  few  piles  were  driven  around  the  inlet  at  the  pumping  station  "  about 
close  enough  together,"  as  one  observes,  "to  exclude  a  young  whale. 
The  small  fry  of  the  finny  tribes  passed  freely  inward,  and  if  they  were 
lucky,  they  passed  out  again  ;  if  unlucky,  they  were  sucked  up  by  the 


42  RAPID  GROWTH  OF  CHICAGO  AND  THE  GREAT  FIRE. 

pumps  and  driven  into  the  pipes  where  they  made  their  way  into  the 
faucets  of  private  houses ;  even  the  hot- water  faucets,  in  which  they  came 
out  cooked,  and  one's  bath  tub  apt  to  be  filled  with  what  squeamish 
citizens  called  chowder."  This  was  not  considered  a  satisfactory  method 
of  procuring  fish  for  breakfast. 

Humorous  Statement  of  the  Case. 

While  the  water  supply  was  being  agitated  a  racy  article  appeared  in 
one  of  the  daily  journals  gravely  charging  the  people  of  Chicago  with 
being  cannibals  and  eating  their  ancestors.  It  asserted  that  as  the  ceme- 
tery was  situated  on  the  shore  of  the  lake,  the  drainings  from  it  flowed 
into  tli2  water,  fish  were  nourished  by  them,  and  these,  having  been 
pumped  into  the  pipes,  became  the  food  of  the  living,  who  in  this  way 
were  devouring  the  remains  of  the  dead.  This  was  exquisite  sarcasm, 
but  sarcasm  is  always  a  powerful  weapon  and  proved  to  be  in  this  case. 

Some  genius  suggested  that  a  big  tunnel  might  be  run  out  a  couple 
of  miles  in  the  lake,  beyond  the  filthy  water  along  the  shore,  and  so  a 
fresh  and  abundant  supply  of  the  pure  article  might  be  obtained.  This 
was  an  undertaking  unknown  in  the  annals  of  engineering.  Nothing 
like  it  had  ever  been  attempted  before,  but  the  novelty  of  it  was  not  suf- 
ficient to  condemn  it  in  the  estimation  of  people  who  were  not  in  the 
habit  of  clinging  to  a  thing  merely  because  it  is  old,  or  rejecting  a  plan 
merely  because  it  is  new.  Chicago  said :  "  Let  the  experiment  be 
tried."  It  was  tried  and  has  proved  a  complete  success.  The  water  for 
the  city  is  obtained  a  long  distance  from  the  shore,  where  it  is  perfectly 
pure,  and  by  this  device  of  Yankee  ingenuity  the  great  city  is  as  well 
furnished  with  water  as  that  of  any  other  in  the  land. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Chicago  has  overcome  its  natural  disadvan- 
tages and  has  removed  the  obstacles  to  its  growth  and  success  as  a  com- 
mercial centre.  Its  location,  its  water  front,  its  thousands  of  miles  of 
railroad,  its  bracing  climate,  its  provision  for  health  and  comfort,  its 
water  supply,  drawn  from  the  great  lake — these  are  among  the  condi- 
tions which  account  for  the  city's  unparalleled  growth. 

It  is  useless  to  predict  what  the  future  has  in  store.  The  great  West 
need  not  busy  itself  with  dreams  and  visions  ;  it  has  enough  to  do  to 
take  care  of  realities.  Whether  Chicago  will  ever  rival  London,  whether 
she  will  outstrip  the  great  metropolis  on  the  eastern  coast,  or  become 
the  largest  city  of  the  world,  as  some  have  predicted,  is  a  question  that 
may  well  be  left  to  cranks  and  dreamers.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  men 
are  now  living,  who  remember  the  place  when  it  started  with  its  twenty- 
eight  voters.  What  the  boy  will  see  who  draws  his  first  breath  to-day 


44  RAPID  GROWTH  OF  CHICAGO  AND  THE  GREAT  FIRE. 

from  the  lively  air  of  the  so-called  "  Windy  City  "  no  one  can  predict. 

No  better  proof  of  the  unconquerable  spirit  and  energy  of  Chicago 
could  be  afforded  than  was  seen  in.  her  recovery  from  the  great  fire  in 
1871,  by  which  property  valued  at  $190,000,000  was  destroyed,  accord- 
ing to  the  best  estimates.  An  old  woman's  cow  kicked  over  a  lamp  one 
day  and  20,000  buildings  vanished  in  smoke.  The  fire  occurred  on  the 
night  of  October  8th,  and  it  forms  the  most  thrilling  episode  in  the  his- 
tory of  Chicago.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  entire  country  was  greatly 
excited  by  the  event.  The  same  maybe  said  of  foreign  countries, as  was 
shown  by  their  messages  of  sympathy  and  offers  of  assistance.  The 
calamity  proved  that  misfortune  makes  the  whole  world  akin,  and  has  for 
its  compensation  the  sympathy  and  kindness  which  always  hasten  to  the 

rescue. 

Tinder  Boxes  in  Flames. 

The  reader  will  be  interested  in  the  following  vivid  account  of  the  fire 
taken  from  the  work  entitled  "  Chicago  and  the  Great  Conflagration,"  by 
Messrs.  Colbert  and  Chamberlain  : 

"  There  had  been  on  the  previous  evening  (that  of  Saturday,  the  /th  of 
October,)  an  extensive  conflagration,  which  the  journals  had  recorded  in 
many  columns,  devoting  to  it  their  most  stunning  head-lines,  their  most 
ponderous  superlatives,  and  their  most  graphic  powers  of  description. 
The  location  of  this  fire  was  in  the  West  Division,  between  Clinton  Street 
and  the  river,  and  running  north  from  Van  Buren  Street,  where  it  caught, 
to  Adams  Street,  where,  fortunately,  it  was  checked  rather  by  the  lack  of 
combustible  material  than  by  any  ability  of  the  fire  department  to  obtain 
the  mastery.  The  damage  by  this  fire  was  nearly  a  million  dollars. 

"A  little'  while  after  nine  o'clock  on  Sunday  evening  the  lamp  was  upset 
which  was  to  kindle  the  funeral  pyre  of  Chicago's  pristine  splendor. 
The  little  stable,  with  its  contents  of  hay,  was  soon  ablaze.  By  the  time 
the  alarm  could  be  sounded  at  the  box  several  blocks  away,  two  or  three 
other  little  buildings — tinder  boxes — to  the  leeward  had  been  ignited, 
and  in  five  minutes  the  poor  purlieu  in  the  vicinity  of  De  Koven  and 
Jefferson  streets  was  blazing  like  a  huge  bonfire. 

"  The  first  vault  across  the  river  was  made  at  midnight  from  Van 
Buren  Street,  lighting  in  a  building  of  the  South  Division  Gas  Works 
on  Adams  Street.  This  germ  of  the  main  fire  was  not  suppressed,  and 
from  that  moment  the  doom  of  the  commercial  quarter  was  sealed, 
though  no  man  could  have  foretold  that  the  raging  element  would  make 
such  complete  havoc  of  the  proudest  and  strongest  structures  in  that 
quarter.  The  axis  of  the  column  as  it  had  progressed  from  the  starting 
point  in  the  southwestern  purlieu  had  varied  hardly  a  point  from  due 


RAPID  GROWTH  OF  CHICAGO  AND  THE  GREAT   FIRE.  45 

northeast.  Having  gained  a  foothold  upon  the  South  Division,  its 
march  naturally  lay  through  two  or  three  blocks  of  pine  rookeries, 
known  as  '  Conley's  Patch,'  and  so  on  for  a  considerable  space  through 
the  abodes  of  squalor  and  vice. 

"Through  these  it  set  out  at  double-quick,  the  main  column  being 
flanked  by  another  on  each  side  and  nearly  an  hour  to  the  rear.  That 
at  the  right  was  generated  by  a  separate  brand  from  the  western  burn- 
ing ;  that  at  the  left  was  probably  created  by  some  of  the  eddies,  which 
were  by  this  time  whirling  through  the  streets  toward  the  flame  below 
and  from  it  above.  The  rookeries  were  quickly  disposed  of.  Beyond 
them,  however,  along  La  Salle  Street,  was  a  splendid  double  row  of  'fire- 
proof mercantile  buildings,  the  superior  of  which  did  not  exist  in  the 
land.  It  was  supposed  they  would  resist  the  march  of  the  flames. 

Public  Buildings  Reduced  to  Ashes. 

"  One  after  another  they  went  as  the  column  advanced  ;  and  the  col- 
umn was  spreading  fearfully — debouching  to  right  and  left,  according  as 
opportunities  of  conquest  offered  themselves.  It  was  not  long  after  one 
o'clock  before  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  was  attacked  and  fell  a  prey 
to  the  advancing  force.  Soon  the  Court  House  was  seized  upon; 
but  it  did  not  surrender  until  near  three  o'clock,  when  the  great  bell 
went  down,  down,  and  pealed  a  farewell,  dying  groan  as  it  went.  The 
hundred  and  fifty  prisoners  in  the  basement  story  were  released  to  save 
their  lives.  They  evinced  their  gratitude  by  pillaging  a  jewelry  store 
near  by. 

"  From  the  Court  House  the  course  of  the  main  column  seemed  to 
tend  eastward,  and  Hooley's  Opera  House,  the  Times  building,  and 
Crosby's  fine  Opera  House  (to  have  been  reopened  that  very  night)  fell 
rapidly  before  it.  Pursuing  its  way  more  slowly  onward,  the  fiery 
invader  laid  waste  some  buildings  to  the  northeast,  and,  preparatory  to 
attacking  the  magnificent  wholesale  stores  at  the  foot  of  Randolph 
Street,  and  the  great  Union  Depot  adjoining,  joined  forces  with  the  other 
branch  of  the  main  column  which  had  lingered  to  demolish  the  Sher- 
man House — a  grand  seven-story  edifice  of  marble — the  Tremont  House, 
and  the  other  fine  buildings  lying  between  Randolph  and  Lake  Streets. 

"  The  left  column  had  meantime  diverged  to  pass  down  La  Salle 
Street  and  attack  all  buildings  lying  to  the  west  of  that  noble  avenue — 
the  Oriental  and  Mercantile  buildings,  the  Union  Bank,  the  Merchants' 
Insurance  building,  where  were  General  Sheridan's  headquarters,  arid 
the  offices  of  the  Western  Union  Telegraph,  and,  in  fact,  an  unbroken 
row  of  the  stone  palaces  of  trade  which  had  already  made  La  Salle  Street 


46 


RAPID  GROWTH  OF  CHICAGO  AND  THE  GREAT  FIRE. 


a  monument  of  Chicago's  business  architecture,  to  which  her  citizens 
pointed  with  glowing  pride,  and  of  which  admiring  visitors  wrote  and 
published  warm  panegyrics  in  all  quarters  of  the  globe. 

"  The  column  of  the  left  did  its  mission  but  too  well,  however,  and  by 
daylight  scarcely  a  stone  was  left  upon  another  in  all  that  stately  thor- 
oughfare. But  one  building  was  standing  in  this  division  of  the  city — a 
large  brick  structure,  with  iron  shutters,  known  as  Lind's  Block.  This 
was  saved  by  its  isolated  location,  being  on  the  shore  of  the  river,  and 
separated  by  an  exceptionally  wide  street  from  the  seething  furnace, 


THE    DAY    AFTER    THE    FIRE. 

which  consumed  all  else  in  its  vicinity.  Naturally  this  building  was  an 
object  of  great  curiosity  after  the  fire,  and  was  visited  by  crowds  of 
sight-seers. 

"  The  right  column  started  from  a  point  near  the  intersection  of  Van 
Buren  Street  and  the  river,  where  some  wooden  buildings  were  ignited 
by  brands  from  the  West  Side,  in  spite  of  the  efforts  of  the  inhabitants 
of  that  quarter  to  save  their  homes  by  drenching  their  premises  with 
water  from  their  hydrants,  and  we  need  hardly  add,  in  spite  of  the 
desultory  though  desperate  efforts  of  the  Fire  Department.  The  right 
column  had  also  the  advantage  of  a  large  area  of  wooden  buildings  on 


RAPID   GROWTH   OF  CHICAGO  AND  THE  GREAT   FIRE.  47 

which  to  ration  and  arm  itself  for  its  march  of  destruction.  Thus  fed 
and  equipped,  it  swept  down  upon  the  remaining  portion  of  the  best- 
built  section  of  the  town.  It  gutted  the  Michigan  Southern  Depot  and 
the  Grand  Pacific  Hotel,  and  the  tornado  soon  made  them  shapeless 
ruins.  It  spared  not  the  unfinished  building  of  the  Lakeside  Publishing 
Company,  which  had  already  put  on  a  very  sightly  front,  and  which  had 
scarcely  anything  to  burn  but  brick  and  stone.  It  licked  up  the  fine 
new  buildings  on  Dearborn  Street  near  the  Postoffice. 

"  The  Postoffice  was  seized  upon  and  gutted  like  the  rest,  some  two 
millions  of  treasure  being  destroyed  in  its  vaults,  which  proved  to  have 
been  of  flimsy  construction.  It  swept  down  upon  the  new  Bigelow 
Housefca  massive  and  elegant  hotel  which  had  never  yet  been  occupied, 
and  demolished  that,  together  with  the  Honore  Block,  a  magnificent  new 
building,  with  massive  walls,  adorned  with  hundreds  of  stately  colon- 
nades of  marble.  It  reached  out  to  the  left,  and  took  McVicker's  new 
theatre  in  its  grasp  for  a  moment  with  the  usual  disastrous  result.  It 
assaulted  the  noble  Tribune  building,  which  the  people  had  been  declar- 
ing, even  up  to  that  terrible  hour,  would  withstand  all  attacks,  being 
furnished  with  all  known  safeguards  against  destruction  by  fire;  but  the 
enemy  was  wily  as  well  as  strong.  It  surrounded  the  fated  structure 
and  ruined  it  too.  It  threw  a  red-hot  brick  wall  upon  the  building's 
weaker  side,  a  shower  of  brands  upon  the  roof,  a  subterranean  fire  under 
the  sidewalk  and  into  the  basement,  and  an  atmosphere  of  furnace  heat 
all  around. 

The  March  of  a  Conqueror. 

"  It  conquered  and  destroyed  the  Tribune  building  at  half-past  seven 
in  the  evening.  It  marched  on  and  laid  waste  Booksellers'  Row,  the 
finest  row  of  book  stores  in  the  world.  It  fell  upon  Potter  Palmer's  store 
of  Massachusetts  marble,  for  which  Field,  Leiter  &  Co.,  dry  goods 
importers,  were  paying  the  owner  $25,000  a  year  rent.  This  splendid 
building,  with  such  of  its  contents  as  had  not  been  removed  in  wagons, 
went  like  all  the  rest.  It  deployed  to  the  right,  in  spite  of  its  ally,  the 
wind,  and  destroyed  the  spendid  churches  and  residences  which  adorned 
the  lower  or  town  end  of  Wabash  and  Michigan  Avenues.  Among 
these  were  the  First  and  Second  Presbyterian  Churches,  Trinity  (Episco- 
pal) Church,  and  the  palatial  row  of  residences  known  as  'Terrace  Row.' 
Finally,  its  course  southward  was  stayed  at  Congress  Street  by  the  blow- 
ing up  of  a  building.  The  southern  line  of  the  fire  was  for  the  most 
part,  however,  along  Harrison  Street,  which  is  one  square  further  to  the 
south. 


48  RAPID  GROWTH  OF  CHICAGO  AND  THE  GREAT  FIRE. 

"  This  is  a  brief  sketch  of  the  operations  of  the  fire  in  the  West  and 
South  Divisions.  It  effected  a  foothold  in  the  North  Division  as  early 
as  half-past  three  in  the  morning ;  and  it  is  remarkable  that  almost  the 
first  building  to  be  attacked  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  was  the  engine 
house  of  the  Water-works ;  as  if  the  terrible  marauder  had,  with  deadly 
strategy,  thrown  out  a  swifter  brand  than  all  others  to  cut  off  the  only 
reliance  of  his  victims — the  water  supply.  The  Water-works  are  nearly 
a  mile  from  the  point  where  the  burning  brands  must  have  crossed  the 
river.  The  denizens  of  the  North  Division  were  standing  in  their  doors 
and  gazing  at  the  blazing  splendor  of  the  Court  House  dome,  when  they 
discovered,  to  their  horror,  that  the  fire  was  already  raging  behind  them, 
and  that  the  Water-works  had  gone.  A  general  stampede  to  the  sands 
of  the  Lake  shore,  or  to  the  prairies  west  of  the  city,  was  the  result. 

"  Besides  its  foothold  at  the  Water-works,  from  which  the  fire  spread 
rapidly  in  every  direction,  it  soon  made  a  landing  in  two  of  the  elevators 
near  the  river,  and  organized  an  advance  which  consumed  everything  left 
by  the  scores  of  separate  irruptions  which  the  flames  were  constantly 
making  in  unexpected  places.  This  was  the  system  by  which  the  North 
Division  was  wiped  out :  blazing  brands  and  scorching  heat  sent  ahead 
to  kindle  many  scattering  fires,  and  the  grand  general  conflagration  fol- 
lowing and  finishing  up. 

Elegant  Residences  Consumed. 

"  Within  the  limits  shown  upon  the  appended  map  nothing  was  spared  ; 
not  any  of  the  elegant  residences  of  the  patricians — not  even  those 
isolated  by  acres  of  pleasure  grounds;  not  even  the  '  fire-proof  Histori- 
cal Hall,  with  its  thousand  precious  relics;  not  even  the  stone  churches 
of  the  Rev.  Robert  Collyer  and  Mr.  Chamberlain,  protected  by  a  park 
in  front;  not  even  the  cemetery  to  the  north,  whither  many  people 
removed  a  few  of  their  most  necessary  effects  only  to  see  them  con- 
sumed before  their  eyes  ;  not  even  Lincoln  Park,  whose  scattering  oaks 
were  burned  to  dismal  pollards  by  the  all-consuming  flames — nothing 
but  one  lone  house,  the  Ogden  residence,  as  the  sole  survivor  of  the 
scourged  district.  The  loss  of  life  and  the  sufferings  of  those  who 
managed  to  escape  with  life  were  most  severe  in  this  quarter  of  the  city. 
They  will  be  long  remembered  by  all  our  people,  the  human  element  of 
the  tragedy  having  been  purposely  omitted  from  this  as  far  as  practicable. 
Only  at  the  lake  and  the  northern  limits  of  the  city  was  the  conflagration 
stayed,  or  rather,  spent,  for  lack  of  anything  to  consume. 

"  The  sensations  conveyed  to  the  spectator  of  this  unparalleled  event, 
either  through  the  eye,  the  ear,  or  other  senses  or  sympathies,  cannot  be 


60  RAPID  GROWTH  OF  CHICAGO  AND  THE  GREAT  FIRE. 

adequately  described,  and  any  attempt  to  do  it  but  shows  the  poverty  of 
language. 

"The  total  area  burned  over,  including  streets,  was  nearly  three  and  a 
third  square  miles.  The  number  of  buildings  destroyed  was  17,450; 
persons  rendered  homeless,  98,500 ;  persons  killed,  about  200.  Not 
including  depreciation  of  real  estate  or  loss  of  business  it  is  estimated 
that  the  total  loss  occasioned  by  the  fire  was  $  1 90,000,000,  of  which  about 
$44,000,000  was  recovered  on  insurance,  though  one  of  the  first  results 
of  the  fire  was  to  bankrupt  many  of  the  insurance  companies  all  over  the 
country.  The  business  of  the  city  was  interrupted  but  a  short  time,  how- 
ever. Before  the  winter  many  of  the  merchants  were  doing  business  in 
extemporized  wooden  structures  and  the  rest  in  private  dwellings.  In  a 
year  after  the  fire  a  large  part  of  the  burnt  district  had  been  rebuilt,  and 
at  present  there  is  scarcely  a  trace  of  the  terrible  disaster,  save  in  the 
improved  character  of  the  new  buildings  over  those  destroyed,  and  the 
general  better  appearance  of  the  city — now  architecturally  the  finest  in 

the  world." 

Another  Great  Conflagration. 

On  July  14,  1874,  within  three  years,  as  if  the  demon  of  destruc- 
tion were  not  yet  satiated,  still  another  great  fire  swept  over  the  devoted 
city,  destroying  eighteen  blocks,  or  sixty  acres,  in  the  heart  of  the  city, 
and  about  $4,000,000  worth  of  property.  Over  600  houses  were  con- 
sumed ;  but  fortunately  by  far  the  larger  number  of  these  were  wooden 
shanties.  Nearly  all  the  magnificent  structures  of  the  rebuilt  section 
escaped. 

The  greatness  of  the  calamity  of  1871  was  only  exceeded  by  the 
greatness  of  the  relief  afforded.  It  is  worth  recording  that  within  a  very 
short  time  subscriptions  amounting  to  $7,000,000  flowed  in,  bringing 
with  them  a  new  heart  and  new  hope  to  the  stricken  sufferers.  The 
desolation  of  the  town  was  frightful.  Streets  were  obliterated,  million- 
aires were  homeless,  paupers  were  as  rich  as  many  who  a  little  time 
before  had  been  accounted  men  of  wealth,  and  the  savings  of  half  a  life- 
time in  many  instances  had  been  swept  away  in  an  hour. 

Ghastly  ruins  covered  the  spot  where  magnificent  buildings  had  reared 
their  imposing  fronts;  the  tall  spires  of  churches  which  had  been 
land-marks  were  no  longer  to  be  seen ;  palatial  hotels  that  had  shel- 
tered hundreds  of  guests  now  looked  like  the  ruins  of  ancient  buildings 
gone  to  decay;  great  business  blocks  which  just  before  had  been  noisy 
with  traffic  were  now  laid  low ;  and  in  fact,  if  an  earthquake  like  that  whicli 
visited  ill-fated  Lisbon  had  upheaved  the  city  and  toppled  over  its  edifices 
the  desolation  could  not  have  been  more  complete. 


RAPID  GROWTH  OF  CHICAGO  AND  THE  GREAT  FIRE.  51 

By  this  awful  conflagration,  the  fiery  pang  of  which  was  felt  through- 
out the  world,  the  spirit  of  the  people  of  Chicago  was  put  to  the  test. 
As  soon  as  the  first  dreadful  blow  was  over,  as  soon  as  the  shock  which 
made  the  city  stagger  had  passed,  people  addressed  themselves  to  the 
great  question  of  repairing  the  dreadful  wastes  and  rebuilding  their 
homes  and  places  of  business.  Chicago  was  not  to  be  left  to  its  fiery  fate  ; 
it  was  to  rise  from  the  ashes  like  the  phoenix  of  old  with  a  stronger  and 
a  bolder  wing.  The  real  history  of  that  lurid  night  and  terrible  day  will 
never  be  written.  Fears,  alarms,  disappointments,  sense  of  losses  can 
never  be  expressed  in  words. 

"Fire-proof  Buildings,"  Good  Fuel. 

And  to  think  that  a  considerable  part  of  the  buildings  which  were 
destroyed  were  "  absolutely  fire-proof!"  No  fear  that  Chicago  would 
burn  !  Iron  fronts,  iron  walls,  iron  floors,  everything  iron — what  chance 
was  there  for  fire  to  get  in  ?  But  the  flames  hissed  and  laughed  at  fire- 
proof structures,  swept  on  like  a  mad  cyclone,  burned  not  only  houses 
of  wood,  but  dashing  through  windows  and  up  stairways  and  elevators, 
licked  with  their  hot  tongues  merchandise  of  every  description,  and  in 
the  seething  furnace,  this  very  hell  of  flame,  iron  melted  like  snowflakes 
and  destruction  reigned  supreme. 

One  thing  had  been  gained :  buildings  "  absolutely  fire-proof"  were 
very  suspicious  structures.  Yet  as  a  large  part  of  the  disaster  had  come 
from  wooden  buildings,  such  as  are  common  in  all  western  towns,  it  was 
decided  that  in  the  reconstruction  they  should  be  left  out  as  far  as  possi- 
ble. Edifices  of  a  more  substantial  character  were  put  up.  Few  towns 
to-day  have  more  fire-proof  structures  than  Chicago,  and  there  can  be 
no  doubt  but  the  appearance  of  the  city  was  greatly  improved  by  the  fire 
that  reduced  to  ashes  so  many  buildings  which  otherwise  would  have 
stood  for  many  years,  but  which  now  are  replaced  by  structures  of  finer- 
proportions.  In  this  view  of  the  case  the  fire  was  not  an  unmixed 
calamity.  The  city  to-day  has  more  attractive  specimens  of  architec- 
ture, more  spacious  business  palaces,  and  more  beautiful  dwellings  by 
reason  of  the  direful  work  of  the  little  lamp  kicked  over  by  an  old 
woman's  cow. 

Whatever  check  was  put  upon  the  prosperity  of  Chicago  by  the  fire 
was  only  temporary.  She  was  soon  on  her  feet  again  and  ready  for  the 
race.  Insurance  companies  settled  their  losses,  available  capital  was 
utilized,  fresh  capital  was  offered  from  distant  places,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  a  new  and  finer  city  began  to  rise  out  of  the  ruins  and  frag- 
ments of  the  old.  The  great  lake  was  still  there;  the  site^on  which  the 


52 


RAPID  GROWTH  OF  CHICAGO  AND  THE  GREAT  FIRE.  53 

metropolis  stood  was  not  burned  up;  the  vast  resources  of  the  Northwest 
were  not  consumed,  and,  best  of  all,  the  spirit  and  courage  of  the  peo- 
ple had  not  died  with  the  smouldering  embers.  Nothing,  therefore, 
remained  but  to  look  forward  to  a  greater  Chicago,  which  was  sure  to 
come  within  the  next  generation. 

A  City  Without  Houses. 

Although  the  homes  of  98,500  persons  were  burned  up,  and  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  this  vast  number  of  people  were  thrown  upon  public 
charity,  yet  that  resolute  determination  which  masters  emergencies  did 
not  forsake  the  sufferers.  Of  the  immense  loss  sustained  only  $44,000, 
OOO  was  covered  by  insurance.  It  is  estimated  that  two  hundred  persons 
lost  their  lives  in  the  conflagration,  a  fact  more  to  be  deplored  than  the 
destruction  of  banks,  warehouses,  wholesale  and  commission  houses, 
railroad  depots  and  much  else  that  had  drawn  t >  Chicago  the  trade  of 
the  Northwest  and  made  it  a  great  commercial  centre. 

One  of  the  incidents  of  the  terrible  scene  was  the  plundering  which 
was  carried  on  by  the  criminal  classes.  Suddenly  they  waked  up  from 
their  hiding  places  and  like  pirates  on  the  high  seas  began  to  seize  what- 
ever they  could  lay  their  hands  on.  General  Phil  Sheridan  took  com- 
mand of  the  situation,  and  on  request  of  the  Mayor  ordered  eight  com- 
panies of  United  States  regulars  to  the  city  to  act  as  police.  This  had  a 
wholesome  effect  upon  the  marauders  and  checked  the  wholesale  plunder 
that  had  been  going  on.  Tents  outside  the  crowded  portion  of  the  town 
were  erected  for  the  accommodation  of  the  homeless,  and  for  a  long  time 
the  locality  looked  like  a  vast  military  camp. 

Yet  already  the  great  fire  has  passed  into  history,  and  many  leaves  of 
the  book  have  since  been  turned  down  upon  that  which  contains  tjie 
lurid  record. 


CHAPTER  III. 
Great  Industries  of  Chicago. 

TO  some  extent  Chicago  is  a  manufacturing  city,  but  in  this  re- 
spect it  does  not  compare  with  other  towns,  especially  Philadel- 
phia, which  is  one  of  the  greatest  manufacturing  centres  in  the 
world.  Business  of  other  kinds,  however,  is  carried  on  at 
Chicago  to  an  almost  unlimited  extent,  and  even  the  manufacturing 
interests  can  have  much  placed  to  their  credit. 

One  of  the  busiest  spots  is  the  Union  Stock  Yards.  These  are 
located  about  five  and  a  half  miles  southwest  of  the  City  Hall.  The 
Union  Stock  Yards  date  back  to  1865,  when  the  company  was  organ- 
ized, purchased  four  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  began  operations  at 
once  on  a  large  scale.  About  half  of  the  ground  is  occupied  by  the 
yards,  the  remainder  being  used  for  railroad  connections.  A  large  num- 
ber of  tracks  run  into  the  yards,  affording  ample  conveniences  for  trans- 
portation. 

The  plant  of  the  Union  Stock  Yards  Company  cost  $4,000,000,  and  it  is 
needless  to  say  has  been  a  profitable  investment.  By  visiting  the  ground 
one  can  realize  the  truth  of  Mr.  Parton's  statement  that  "  Chicago  feeds 
States  and  Kingdoms."  It  used  to  be  said  that  cotton  was  king ;  some 
of  the  northwest  states  say  that  corn  is  king ;  but  from  the  amount  of 
business  done  in  the  great  packing  establishments  of  Chicago  it  would 
seem  to  be  more  nearly  correct  to  say  that  pork  is  king.  Here  at  the 
yards  are  twenty  miles  of  streets,  twenty  miles  of  water-troughs,  fifty 
miles  of  feeding-troughs,  and  about  seventy-five  miles  of  water  and 
drainage  pipes.  This  gives  one  some  idea  of  the  vast  magnitude  of  the 
business  carried  on.  The  visitor  wonders  where  all  the  immense  product 
can  find  a  market. 

The  yards  have  an  excellent  supply  of  water,  some  of  which  is 
brought  in  by  pipes,  while  a  considerable  part  is  procured  by  a  number 
x>f  artesian  wells,  having  an  average  depth  of  1,230  feet. 

Numbers  Accommodated. 

The  yards  can  accommodate  at  one  time  50,000  sheep,  20,000  cattle 
and  120,000  hogs,  yet  the  conveniences  are  so  ample  that  this  vast  num- 
ber can  be  well  cared  for  and  supplied  with  food  and  water.  Great  pains 
are  taken  to  keep  the  yards  in  good  condition,  and  a  small  army  of  men 
is  employed  for  this  purpose  and  in  looking  after  the  stock. 
54 


50  GREAT  INDUSTRIES  OF  CHICAGO. 

Of  course,  the  business  is  reduced  to  a  system  ;  there  is  no  disorder, 
no  confusion,  no  hopeless  tangle  at  any  time,  and  as  the  company  owns 
150  miles  of  railroad  tracks,  with  any  number  of  switches  and  shipping 
places,  the  vast  multitude  of  sheep,  cattle  and  hogs  can  be  handled  with 
comparative  ease.  Trains  are  constantly  rolling  in  with  their  living 
freight,  which  is  received  by  the  company  and  taken  in  charge  for  the 
commission  men  and  dealers  or  salesmen,  who  occupy  premises  assigned 
them  in  the  yard,  and  who  aim  to  have  all  their  cattle  located  in  one 
place.  The  whole  yard  is  divided  into  pens,  and  these  are  so  numbered 
and  situated  that  the  business  is  expedited  and  easily  carried  on.  Each 
pen  has  a  water-trough,  and  there  are  hay-racks  in  those  used  for  cattle 
and  sheep.  All  the  pens  are  made  of  wood  and  very  strongly  con- 
structed, the  floors  being  of  the  same  material.  The  alleys  that  intersect 
the  yard  are  macadamized.  Feed  stores  and  weighing  scales  are  placed 
at  convenient  points.  The  Stock  Yards  Company  is  responsible  to  the 
railroad  companies  for  the  freight  due  on  each  shipment,  and  in  turn  the 
owners  of  the  stock  and  the  commission  men  are  responsible  to  the  com- 
pany. It  would  be  impossible  to  collect  the  freight  on  every  carload  as 
it  comes  in,  and  so  settlements  are  made  twice  a  week,  the  commission 
men  being  required  to  furnish  to  the  company  a  bond  of  $i 0,000  to 
secure  the  amounts  that  may,  at  any  time,  accumulate. 

Hours  for  Buying  and  Selling. 

The  arrivals  of  trains  at  the  yards  are  frequent  between  four  and  eight 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  yet  the  trains  come  in  at  all  hours  of  the  day. 
Buying  and  selling  are  constantly  going  on.  The  hog  market  opens 
early  and  the  transactions  are  generally  over  by  ten  o'clock.  Most  of 
the  buying  in  the  sheep  market  is  done  in  the  morning,  while  trading  in 
cattle  begins  at  nine  o'clock  and  continues  until  three. 

The  number  of  employees  at  the  Stock  Yards  is  about  1,000,  and  there 
are  120  commission  men  who  employ  1,000  assistants ;  to  these  must  be 
added  about  300  buyers,  while  there  are  hundreds  of  sight-seers  and 
owners  of  stock  who  are  looking  on.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  yard  is  a 
very  busy  place,  and  the  vast  magnitude  of  the  business  may  be  esti- 
mated from  the  fact  that  during  five  days  of  the  week  about  10,000 
cattle  arrive  every  day  in  addition  to  the  great  number  of  sheep  and 
hogs.  The  troughs  are  filled  with  water,  and  hay  is  provided  for  the 
cattle,  which  are  sorted  and  classed,  and  then  the  preparations  for  buying 
and  selling  are  complete. 

In  another  part  of  the  town  is  located  the  Exchange  Building,  where 
the  Stock  Yards  Company,  commission  men,  buyers  and  railroad  com- 


GREAT  INDUSTRIES  OF  CHICAGO.  57 

panics  have  their  offices.  A  bank  is  also  located  in  the  same  building. 
One  interesting  feature  of  the  business  is  the  weighing  of  the  live  stock. 
For  this  purpose  immense  scales  are  provided,  with  a  capacity  of  1 00,000 
pounds.  A  vast  number  of  cattle  can  be  placed  on  the  scales  in  a  single 
day.  Everybody  is  at  liberty  to  examine  the  scales,  and  this  precau- 
tionary measure  prevents  all  disputes  concerning  the  weights.  As  the 
cattle  pass  from  the  scales  they  become  the  property  of  the  buyer.  A 
scale  ticket  is  furnished  from  which  the  weight  is  determined  and  the 
amount  of  the  purchase  is  made  up.  It  is  not  necessary  here  to  enter 
into  all  the  details  of  sorting  the  stock  and  separating  it  according  to  its 
condition  and  value.  The  whole  business  is  so  systematized  that  the 
best  results  are  obtained. 

Helping  to  Feed  the  World. 

Standing  in  the  Stock  Yards  one  is  led  to  inquire  what  becomes  of  the 
vast  product  which  is  handled  daily.  Where  does  it  come  from  and 
where  does  it  go  ?  The  movement  is  always  toward  the  East ;  it  does 
not  stop  even  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  The  borders  of  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  the  great  ranches  of  Texas  and  the  Southwest,  the  valleys  of 
Montana  and  Nevada,  and  the  wide  plains  of  Arizona,  all  help  to  feed 
the  Stock  Yards  of  Chicago.  The  animals  are  gathered  at  various  points 
and  then  collected  at  some  convenient  place  for  shipment,  and  are  hurried 
on  to  their  destination.  The  whole  world  must  eat,  and  Chicago  helps 
to  solve  the  all-important  problem  of  supplying  food  for  millions  of  human 
mouths. 

One  of  the  latest  improvements  in  transportation  is  the  construction  of 
"  palace  stock-cars "  by  which  cattle  can  be  easily  supplied  with  food 
and  water  on  their  journey.  This  provision  has  not  only  a  commercial 
aspect,  but  it  is  also  humane  and  reasonable  ;  for  it  is  useless  to  boast  of 
high  attainments  in  civilization  when  there  is  constant  abuse  of  the  ani- 
mal creation  and  a  cruelty  which  places  man  on  the  level  of  the  brute. 
It  frequently  happens  that  the  sufferings  of  animals  transported  a  long 
distance  are  pitiful  and  inhumar 

The  Famous  Packing-Houses. 

Just  here  we  may  give  a  brief  description  of  the  packing-houses,  some 
of  the  largest  of  which  in  the  world  are  located  at  Chicago.  Among 
these  may  be  mentioned  the  "  Big- Four"  packers,  namely,  Armour  and 
Company,  the  Anglo-American  Packing  Company,  Nelson  Morris  and 
Company  and  Swift  and  Company.  These  firms  have  shown  their  enter- 
prise by  organizing  a  new  Stock  Yard  Company,  in  order  to  keep  pace  with 


53  GREAT  INDUSTRIES  OF  CHICAGO. 

the  rapid  increase  of  business.  As  early  as  1870,  Mr.  George  II.  Ham- 
mond, of  Detroit,  conceived  the  idea  of  dressing  beef  and  shipping  it  to 
distant  points.  His  untimely  death  prevented  him  from  carrying  out  his 
great  project  to  the  fullest  extent,  but  others  took  it  up,  and  it  is  now  an 
important  part  of  the  packing  industry  of  Chicago.  Slaughter-houses, 
with  all  the  best  appliances  and  contrivances  for  carrying  on  the  busi- 
ness, have  been  erected,  where  every  part  of  the  animal  is  utilized,  and 
the  meat  is  made  ready  to  be  packed  in  the  refrigerator  cars  and  thus 
sent  all  over  the  country.  Europe  wants  whatever  America  does,  and 
the  product  of  the  packing-houses  is  not  confined  to  our  own  country 
for  its  market. 

The  slaughter-house  is  an  interesting  place  to  visit,  that  is,  if  one  can 
forget  for  the  moment  that  helpless  animals  are  giving  up  their  own  lives 
to  maintain  the  lives  of  human  beings.  The  place  is  kept  scrupulously 
neat  and  clean,  and  scarcely  a  speck  of  dirt  can  be  discovered  on  the 
floors  where  the  process  is  completed.  One  discovers  no  noise  nor  con- 
fusion; the  rapidity  with  which  the  work  goes  on  and  the  dexterity  of 
the  butchers  are  amazing  ;  and  the  mechanical  contrivances  and  the  sys- 
tem employed  impress  every  visitor. 

A  Typical  Guide. 

For  the  very  moderate  sum  of  twenty-five  cents  anyone  who  wishes 
to  visit  the  Stock  Yards  and  packing  establishments  can  obtain  a  guide 
familiar  with  all  the  mysteries  of  the  place  and  able  to  describe  the 
interesting  sights  with  as  much  enthusiasm  as  if  he  were  a  Congressman 
advocating  the  admission  of  a  new  state  into  the  Union  and  picturing 
its  wonderful  resources.  He  will  conduct  you  from  point  to  point, 
answer  all  questions  with  the  greatest  affability,  tell  you  the  names  of  all 
the  streets  and  avenues,  for  it  must  be  understood  that  all  the  narrow 
passages  are  named  as  pompously  as  a  Michigan  Avenue,  and  when  you 
have  heard  all  he  has  to  say,  and  seen  how  the  business  is  done,  you  are 
fortunate  if  you  are  not  so  completely  bewildered  that  you  know  quite 
as  little  as  you  did  before  you  paid  your  twenty-five  cents. 

Yet  a  visit  to  these  places  will  at  least  give  one  a  general  idea  of  one 
of  the  great  industries  of  Chicago.  You  will  see  important  officials  who, 
from  having  once  driven  cows  down  the  old  country  lane,  have  risen  to 
be  moguls  and  are  reputed  to  be  millionaires.  The  outside  dress  and 
appearance  may  not  indicate  that  they  are  money  kings,  yet  it  is  not 
important  that  a  man  who  can  draw  his  check  for  half  a  million  or  a 
million  should  carry  around  on  his  person  a  placard  to  let  the  world 
know  it. 


GREAT  INDUSTRIES  OF  CHICAGO.  59 

There  is  one  particular  guide  at  the  stock  yards  frequently  pointed 
out  as  an  extremely  interesting  fellow.  This  is  "  Old  Bill,"  the  bunko 
steer.  He  is  perhaps  the  most  depraved  animal  in  existence.  There  is 
no  element  of  brotherly  love  or  patriotism  in  his  nature.  His  duty  at 
the  yards  is  to  guide  droves  of  cattle  to  the  slaughter-houses.  He  has 
mastered  his  little  act  and  reduced  steering  steers  to  a  science.  Every 
day  he  takes  his  post  near  one  of  Armour's  packing  houses  and  waits 
until  it  is  necessary  to  drive  a  herd  of  cattle  up  the  viaduct  to  the  killing- 
rooms.  He  then  joins  the  drove,  ingratiates  himself  into  their  good-will, 
and  tells  them  that  he  knows  of  a  good  pasture  not  far  away.  At  his 
suggestion  the  cattle  think  about  it  and  finally  resolve  to  let  him  lead 
them  there.  Bill,  the  bunko  steer,  laughs  softly  and  a  cruel  look  lights 
his  eyes.  He  lopes  off  through  the  mud  toward  a  large  gate  not  far 
away.  Following  after  him  are  a  hundred  or  more  cattle,  every  one 
entertaining  a  vision  of  gently-swelling  hills  covered  with  long,  wavy 
blue-grass  and  sweet-clover  blossoms.  Bill  leads  them  to  this  gate  and 
allows  the  herd  to  go  through  it,  while  he  steps  aside  and  avoids  the  rush. 
As  the  dust  of  the  rush  clears  off  a  little  a  familiar  figure  is  observed 
slowly  strolling  away  from  the  gate.  It  is  "  Bill."  On  his  face  is  no 
remorse  as  he  saunters  back  Jto  his  post  of  duty  near  a  tall  fence.  He  is 
then  ready  to  betray  a  couple  hundred  more  of  his  unsuspecting  rela- 
tives. 

Grain  Elevators. 

One  of  the  largest  transportation  vessels  on  the  lakes  is  the  propeller 
"America."  Her  first  cargo  consisted  of  95,000  bushels  of  corn.  To 
load  this  vast  bulk  in  the  old  way  would  consume  a  vast  amount  of  time 
and  require  the  labor  of  many  men.  The  vessel  received  her  cargo  of 
95,000  bushels  of  corn  in  one  hour  and  twenty-five  minutes  and  was 
ready  for  sailing.  This  simple  fact  shows  the  practical  advantages  of 
the  grain  elevator. 

An  immense  quantity  of  grain  is  handled  at  Chicago,  and  this  has 
necessitated  the  construction  of  elevators  on  a  large  scale.  One  of  these 
huge  buildings,  put  up  in  first-class  style,  costs  about  $500,000.  The 
height  and  length  are  each  about  155  feet.  There  is  an  outside  brick 
wall  sixteen  or  eighteen  inches  thick;  a  fire  wall  two  feet  thick  com- 
monly divides  the  building  in  the  middle.  Tanks  and  barrels  of  water 
are  located  at  convenient  points  and  chemical  fire  extinguishers  are  ready 
for  emergency.  Iron  ladders  extend  to  the  top  as  a  precaution  against 
fire,  and  electric  signals  are  so  placed  that  an  instant  alarm  can  be  given. 

The  machinery  is  of  the  best  construction,  including  a  Corliss  engine 
Of  1,000  horse-power.  The  diameter  of  the  main  shaft  is  eighteen  inches 


60 


GREAT  INDUSTRIES  OF  CHICAGO.  61 

and  that  of  the  drive-wheel  is  twenty  feet.  A  rubber  belt  2OO  feet  long 
and  five  feet  wide  is  among  the  curiosities  of  the  establishment.  The 
chimney  of  the  furnaces  is  about  the  height  of  the  building,  and  fourteen 
feet  in  diameter  at  the  base.  The  labor  of  100  men  is  required  to  run  an 
elevator  of  this  size. 

How  the    Loading   and   Unloading   Are    Done. 

The  cars  containing  the  grain  are  run  alongside  the  building  for  the 
purpose  of  conveniently  unloading.  The  grain  falls  through  an  iron 
grating  into  the  hopper  under  the  floor.  There  it  is  caught  by  buckets 
and  carried  to  the  top  of  the  building,  where  it  is  emptied  into  scale  hop- 
pers, each  of  which  is  capable  of  holding  2,000  bushels.  Hundreds  of 
bins  are  partitioned  off  for  the  storage  of  the  grain.  Spouts  and  funnels 
are  provided  through  which  the  grain  is  conducted  to  cars  or  vessels  for 
transportation. 

When  grain  is  to  be  shipped  it  is  drawn  from  the  bins  into  a  hopper 
on  the  ground  floor  and  thence  it  is  carried  by  the  elevators  into  storage 
places  above  the  scales, where  it  is  weighed  in  qtianities  of  500  bushels  at 
a  time.  Being  then  emptied  into  a  shipping  bin,  which  is  amply  provided 
with  spouts,  it  can  be  easily  conveyed  to  the  vessel  waiting  for  its  cargo. 
Cars  are  loaded  much  in  the  same  way.  The  grain  elevator  is  a  remark- 
able device  and  is  a  great  saving  of  time  and  labor. 

Chicago  is  an  immense  depot  for  wheat  and  corn.  Some  of  the  wild- 
est speculations  of  recent  times  have  been  in  these  products.  Through 
the  newspapers  the  reading  public  hears  of"  corners  in  wheat  "  and  the 
fortunes  which  are  made  or  lost  by  the  great  operators.  The  vast 
prairies  of  the  West  must  have  an  outlet  for  their  products.  Chicago 
stretches  out  its  hands  toward  the  great  agricultural  districts  ;  the  very 
wheat  seems  to  nod  its  head  towards  Chicago.  The  transactions  in 
grain  are  so  large  that  this  business  must  be  considered  one  of  the  most 
important  of  the  western  metropolis. 

The  Lumber  Business. 

Next  must  be  mentioned  the  trade  in  lumber,  which  began  with  the 
growth  of  the  city  and  has  increased  from  year  to  year.  It  is  useless  to 
give  the  reader  the  figures  of  this  vast  business.  These  would  convey 
but  little  idea  of  the  amount  of  lumber  received  and  shipped  to  other 
points.  Fortunately  the  regions  around  the  upper  lakes  are  heavily 
timbered.  Nature  has  provided  fine  growths  and  has  been  lavish  with 
her  products.  An  army  of  men  has  been  employed  for  many  years  in 
cutting  down  the  forests  and  turning  them  into  material  for  the  con 
struction  of  buildings  and  furniture. 


62  GREAT  INDUSTRIES  OF  CHICAGO. 

The  lumber  district  is  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  city,  from  five  to 
seven  miles  from  the  Postoffice.  The  yards  extend  over  a  wide  area,  and 
like  a  town,  are  laid  out  in  streets  and  alleys.  Here  the  boards  and 
planks  are  received  from  the  vessels,  and  thousands  of  men  are  employed 
in  unloading  them  and  placing  them  in  position  to  be  seasoned  and  made 
ready  for  the  market.  Some  of  the  largest  planing  mills  and  sash,  door 
and  blind  factories  in  the  world  are  located  here.  In  fact  a  whole  house 
can  be  built  in  these  factories,  except  merely  putting  it  together.  All 
the  various  parts  are  prepared  and  made  ready  for  shipment,  and  all  the 
builder  has  to  do  is  to  fit  them  together.  A  man  can  send  an  order  by 
letter  for  a  house  and  might  get  it  by  the  next  train. 

A  considerable  part  of  the  foreign  labor  employed  in  Chicago  is  con- 
nected with  the  lumber  yards.  The  turbulent  element  in  the  foreign 
population  has  sometimes  turned  this  district  into  a  pandemouium. 
Riots  on  a  small  scale  have  been  of  frequent  occurrence,  yet  recently  a 
more  peaceful  spirit  has  prevailed  and  the  lumber  district  has  a  much 
better  reputation  than  formerly. 

The  Celebrated  McCormick  Reaper. 

Among  the  individual  enterprises  which  have  given  Chicago  fame 
must  be  mentioned  the  McCormick  Harvesting  Machine  Company. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  works  of  this  company  produce  more  grass  and 
grain-cutting  machines  than  any  other  establishment  in  the  world. 
Formerly  harvesting  was  done  by  hand,  but  the  old  scythe  and  cradle 
were  too  slow,  and  now  it  would  seem  ludicrous  to  attempt  to  use  them' 
for  the  vast  crops,  which  grow  upon  our  western  prairies.  As  long  ago 
as  183!  a  McCormick  reaper  was  in  use  in  Virginia.  By  a  process  of 
evolution  it  has  been  brought  to  its  present  state  of  perfection  and  is  one 
of  our  most  famous  American  inventions. 

The  works  of  the  company  are  on  the  outskirts  of  the  city  and  are  situ- 
ated on  the  south  branch  of  the  Chicago  River.  They  appear  to  form 
almost  a  town  by  themselves.  The  spacious  yards,  the  large  buildings, 
the  perpetual  hum  of  machinery,  the  resounding  hammer  strokes,  the 
hurried  clatter,  which  may  be  heard  in  the  distance,  the  hundreds  of 
employes  scattered  through  the  works,  reminding  one  of  a  swarm  of  bees, 
convey  to  the  mind  of  the  visitor  some  idea  of  the  magnitude  of  this  very 
successful  manufacturing  establishment.  Until  within  a  recent  period 
Cyrus  H.  McCormick,  the  inventor,  was  the  leading  spirit,  and  gave  his 
personal  attention  to  the  manufacture  of  his  far-famed  reaper.  His  suc- 
cess is  proved  from  the  fact  that  one-third  of  all  the  grain  and  grass-cut- 
ting machines  in  the  world  are  manufactured  at  Chicago. 


\ 


GREAT  INDUSTRIES  OF  CHICAGO.  63 

There  are  other  establishments  in  Chicago,  where  large  quantities  of 
agricultural  implements,  such  as  reapers,  mowers,  corn-planters,  etc.,  are 
manufactured ;  so  that  this  industry  has  become  one  of  the  most 

important. 

McCormick  Machines  for  the  Continent. 

These  go  everywhere.  Figures  show  that  in  one  season  the  number 
of  machines  sold  reached  the  amazing  total  of  105,468.  This  stupend- 
ous achievement  can  be  fully  estimated  only  when  we  consider  that  each 
of  these  is  to  be  drawn  by  horses  and  has  a  weight  of  650  to  1,300 
pounds.  Only  the  most  effective  machinery,  employed  with  the  greatest, 
skill,  could  produce  such  enormous  results.  The  transportation  facilities 
of  the  place  are  unsurpassed.  There  are  covered  sheds  extending  over 
railroad  tracks  where  fifty  cars  can  be  loaded  at  once,  and  the  facilities  for 
bringing  in  the  raw  material  are  equally  great.  Except  for  the  tmst 
complete  system  in  all  the  various  departments,  the  work  could  not  be 
done ;  every  official  knows  his  place,  so  does  every  other  man ;  and  so 
apparently  do  every  axle  and  every  cog  and  every  wheel. 

This  gigantic  business  has  long  been  growing;  new  improvements  from 
time  to  time  have  been  made  in  the  reapers,  keeping  fully  up  with  the 
times,  and  as  the  country  has  been  settled  and  new  furrows  have  been 
turned,  the  click  of  the  McCormick  reaper  has  been  heard  over  half  the 
continent.  The  company  has  in  its  possession  a  curiosity  well  worth 
visiting  the  place  to  see.  It  is  the  first  and  original  reaper  invented  by 
Cyrus  H.  McCormick.  It  is  old  and  quaint,  worn  and  rusty,  but  is  the 
embodiment  of  an  idea.  It  is  interesting  to  compare  this  with  the 
superb  machine  which  has  grown  out  of  it.  When  we  think  of  the  old 
hand-sickle  and  the  slow  process  of  harvesting  common  among  our  easy- 
going ancestors,  a  process  which  was  harder  and  more  laborious  than 
the  one  which  has  taken  its  place,  we  need  not  wonder  that  human 
ingenuity  set  itself  to  work  to  provide  a  more  expeditious  method  and 
one  that  would  be  easier.  There  has  been  great  improvement  in  all 
kinds  of  agricultural  implements.  These  have  been  an  important  aid  in 
farm  labor,  and  among  them  all  probably  none  is  more  highly  prized 
than  the  reaper  we  have  briefly  described. 

Pullman  Palace  Cars. 

In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Chicago  the  works  of  the  Pullman  Palace 
Car  Company  are  located.  These  can  easily  be  reached  by  visitors  from 
the  heart  of  the  city.  The  Pullman  palace  car  is  known  to  all  travellers 
upon  our  great  railroads.  Its  popularity  has  been  abundantly  proved, 
and  the  fact  that  it  survives  all  tests  and  is  in  constant  use  is  sufficient 
evidence  of  its  convenience  and  value. 


64 


GREAT  INDUSTRIES  OF  CHICAGO. 


The  works  of  the  Company  are  located  at  Pullman  on  the  shore  of 
Lake  Calumet,  ten  miles  south  of  the  business  part  of  the  city. 
The  town  takes  its  name  from  its  founder,  who  located  it  on  as  high 
ground  as  could  be  obtained  in  order  to  secure  healthful  surround- 
ings. The  principal  industry  is,  of  course,  the  manufacture  of  Pullman 
cars.  The  population  is  15,000,  while  a  much  larger  number  occupy 
the  immediate  vicinity.  Ground  was  broken  for  the  Palace  Car 
Works  on  May  25,  1881.  No  place  has  awakened  greater  interest  and 
none  apparently  has  been  more  prosperous. 


INTERIOR  OF  PULLMAN  SLEEPING  CAR. 

About  4,000  men  are  employed  in  the  works  of  the  Car  Company,  which 
are  confined  not  merely  to  palace  cars,  but  extend  their  operations  to 
the  manufacture  of  freight,  passenger,  sleeping  and  street  cars.  The 
intention  of  the  founder  of  the  place  was  to  make  this  a  model  town. 
Care  was  taken  in  lying  out  the  streets,  building  the  residences,  provid- 
ing for  parks  and  gardens,  and  obtaining  a  good  supply  of  water.  Neat- 
ness and  thrift  are  evident  on  all  sides,  and  the  employes  of  the  works 
seem  to  appreciate  their  advantages. 

Industries  of  various  descriptions  are  connected  with  the  car  workc, 
affording  employment  to  a  large  number  of  people.  The  success  of  this 


GREAT  INDUSTRIES  OF  CHICAGO. 


65 


enterprise  is  what  might  be  expected  from  the  brain  and  energy  that  have 
been  put  into  it.  Strict  business  principles  are  laid  down  and  resolutely 
carried  out.  Every  two  weeks  wages  are  paid,  and  these  are  sufficient 
to  enable  almost  any  man,  with  economy,  not  only  to  live  comfortably 
but  to  lay  up  something  ahead.  Much  has  been  written  in  magazines  and 
newspapers  concerning  this  place,  for  the  reason  that  when  it  was  started 
it  was  considered  an  experiment.  It  cannot  be  regarded  in  this  light 
to-day,  for  the  experimental  stage  was  passed  long  ago. 


INTERIOR  OF  A  PULLMAN  PARLOR  CAR. 

One  of  the  largest  industries  of  Chicago  is  that  of  the  Illinois  Steel 
Company.  Of  the  nineteen  coke-blast  furnaces  in  the  city,  seventeen 
are  owned  by  this  company.  "The  Illinois  Steel  Company"  is  a  cor- 
poration formed  by  the  consolidation  of  the  North  Chicago  Rolling  Mill 
Company,  the  Joliet  Steel  Company  and  the  Union  Steel  Company.  The 
consolidation  was  effected  May  I,  1889,  and  brought  under  one  control 
and  management  five  plants  as  follow:  North  Chicago  Works,  South 
Chicago  Works  and  Milwaukee  Works,  the  North  Chicago  Rolling  Mill 
5 


66  GREAT  INDUSTRIES  OF  CHICAGO. 

Company,  Joliet  Steel  Company's  Works,  at  Joliet ;  Union  Steel  Com- 
pany's Works,  at  Chicago.  Other  property,  such  as  coal  lands  and  coke 
ovens,  etc.,  belonging  to  the  separate  companies,  was  also  included,  the 
whole  comprising  a  property  which  is  capitalized  at  $50,000,000.  The 
five  plants  of  the  company  occupy  over  500  acres  of  ground,  and  the 
coal  lands  consist  of  4,500  acres,  on  which  there  are  1,150  coke  ovens. 
The  company  owns  1,500  cars  used  in  the  coke  trade,  and  the  internal 
transportation  at  the  different  plants  requires  the  use  of  500  cars  and 
forty-two  locomotives  of  standard  gauge,  besides  seventeen  narrow-gauge 
locomotives  hauling  special  truck.  There  are  sixty  miles  of  standard 
gauge  and  seventeen  miles  of  narrow-gauge  railroads  in  the  track. 

The  first  intention  was  to  use  these  works  in  making  rails,  and  this 
object  has  been  carried  out  with  great  success.  The  company  has  helped 
to  belt  the  continent  with  steel.  From  time  to  time,  however,  a  demand 
for  other  forms  of  iron  and  steel  work  has  sprung  up,  so  that  the  com- 
pany is  now  a  very  extensive  manufacturer  of  rods,  beams,  billets  and 
other  products  which  find  a  ready  market.  New  blast-furnaces  have 
been  provided  as  they  were  required.  Pennsylvania  boasts  of  some  of 
the  largest  iron  and  steel  works  in  the  country,  but  this  plant  at  Chicago 
is  a  successful  rival  of  all  the  industries  of  this  description  in  this  or  any 
other  part  of  the  world.  The  rich  mines  of  Lake  Superior  and  Iron 
Ridge  in  Wisconsin  furnish  ores,  and  the  various  mills  are  kept  running 
to  their  fullest  capacity.  So  varied  are  the  products  of  the  company 
that  it  may  be  said  in  a  general  way  these  comprise  almost  everything 
that  is  required  of  the  iron  and  steel  industry. 

Piano  and  Organ  Factories. 

There  are  few  American  homes  in  which  there  is  not  some  musical 
instrument.  The  newer  parts  of  the  country  in  this  respect  are  not 
one  whit  behind  the  older  communities  of  the  East.  The  grim  Puritan 
sang  psalms  in  church  without  any  organ,  but  his  descendants  indulge 
in  livelier  music  accompanied  by  all  sorts  of  instruments.  Sometimes  we 
wonder  where  all  the  Family  Bibles  go,  hundreds  of  thousands  of  which 
are  manufactured  every  year  ;  "  where  do  all  the  pianos  go,"  is  a  question 
equally  interesting  and  hard  to  answer.  Evidently  the  people  of  our 
country  are  lovers  of  music  ;  they  sing,  they  play,  they  attend  concerts 
and  operas,  they  have  excellent  schools  for  the  cultivation  of  musical 
talent. 

The  great  piano  and  organ  factories  of  the  W.  W.  Kimball  Company 
are  among  the  attractions  of  Chicago,  and  will  interest  the  visitor  about 
as  much  as  any  that  can  be  pointed  out.  The  buildings  composing  the 


GREAT  INDUSTRIES  OF  CHICAGO.  67 

factories  are  two  in  number,  each  being  the  counterpart  of  the  other,  five 
stories  high,  with  a  frontage  of  eighty  feet  and  a  depth  of  250  feet. 
Together  they  have  a  floorage  of  200,000  square  feet.  They  are  located 
on  the  Chicago  River,  and  near  the  junction  of  two  railroads,  with  a 
private  switch  leading  into  the  premises.  The  grounds  comprise  over 
seven  acres  of  land,  the  most  of  which  is  used  as  a  lumber  yard.  The 
company  always  have  some  4,000,000  square  feet  of  lumber  on  hand. 
The  six  large  dry-houses  hold  150,000  square  feet. 

Where  the  "Work  is  Done. 

As  soon  as  the  lumber  is  sufficiently  dried  it  is  placed  on  little  cars 
made  expressly  for  that  purpose,  and  wheeled  directly  into  the  mill-room 
where  it  is  cut  up  into  proper  shapes  for  both  pianos  and  organs.  For 
this  purpose  the  company  have  all  the  latest  improved  machines.  The 
work  is  divided  between  the  two  factories,  the  organs  being  made  in  one, 
while  the  other  is  devoted  exclusively  to  pianos.  All  the  mill  work, 
however,  is  done  in  the  organ  factory.  These  factories  give  employment 
to  between  five  and  six  hundred  men.  Each  factory  is  divided  by  a 
thick  fire  wall  into  three  parts.  There  are  thirty  of  these  rooms,  besides 
the  office  in  the  front  of  the  piano  factory.  The  company  ships  about 
loo  pianos  every  week,  or  about  5,000  per  annum.  Permission  to  visit 
the  factories  may  be  obtained  at  the  Wabash  Avenue  salesroom. 

The  building  occupied  by  the  offices  of  this  co:npany  is  considered 
one  of  the  finest  edifices  in  the  country.  It  is  made  of  chocolate-colored 
brick,  has  a  frontage  of  eighty  feet  and  is  seven  stories  high.  The 
trimmings  are  brown  stone,  and  particular  attention  has  been  paid  to  the 
strength  and  durability  of  the  materials.  The  floors  are  double  and  the 
air-chambers  are  padded  with  cement.  Within  the  building  is  a  concert 
hall  which  holds  six  hundred  people,  and  by  opening  folding  doors  a 
larger  number  can  be  accommodated.  The  floors  above  the  first,  contain- 
ing upwards  of  fifty  rooms,  are  furnished  for  offices  and  studios,  and  are 
occupied  by  artists,  teachers  and  musicians.  The  building  is  lighted 
throughout  with  electricity,  the  ventilation  is  the  best  that  can  be 
obtained,  and  elevators  obviate  the  necessity  of  climbing  long  flights  of 
stairs.  Electric  motors  are  the  power  used  for  the  elevators.  All  the 
latest  improvements  have  been  introduced  and  the  building  is  a  model  of 
its  kind. 

Western  Electric  Company. 

The  manufacture  of  electric  apparatus  is  another  of  the  great  indus- 
tries of  Chicago.  The  Western  Electric  Company's  Works  are  situated 
on  Clinton  Street;  they  have  a  frontage  of  312  feet  and  a  depth  of  150 


68  GREAT  INDUSTRIES  OF  CHICAGO. 

feet.  The  building  has  six  stories  and  five  acres  of  floor  space.  About 
eleven  hundred  hands  are  employed,  whose  weekly  wages  amount  to 
something  like  $n,ooo.  The  value  of  the  product  annually  turned  out 
readies  the  grand  total  of  $2,500,000.  This  company  manufactures 
all  kinds  of  electrical  apparatus  such  as  lamps,  motors,  telephones,  tele- 
graph wires,  insulated  wires,  electric  light  cables,  multiple  switch-boards, 
magnetic  bells,  etc. 

Marvelous  Discoveries  in  Electricity. 

A  visit  to  this  establishment  will  give  one  a  vivid  idea  of  the  marvel- 
ous discoveries  in  electricity  and  the  ingenious  contrivances  employed 
for  lighting  dwellings,  stores,  factories,  theatres  and  the  streets  of  our 
large  cities.  It  is  remarkable  that  the  untamed  lightning  should  be 
brought  into  our  very  houses,  affording  us  an  opportunity  to  read  our 
newspapers  by  its  brilliant  light.  It  is  also  remarkable,  considering  the 
really  dangerous  nature  of  electricity,  that  so  few  accidents  by  its  use 
have  been  reported. 

It  may  be  said  that  the  science  of  electricity  is  as  yet  only  in  its 
infancy.  In  all  probability  great  discoveries  will  yet  be  made,  parti- 
cularly in  the  application  of  this  agent  as  a  motive  power.  Past  dis- 
coveries are  remarkable  and  interesting  as  showing  that  nature's 
resources  are  ample  for  the  wants  of  man.  No  sooner  do  men  who  have 
a  passion  for  dealing  with  figures  begin  to  predict  that  our  mountains  of 
coal  will  one  day  be  exhausted,  cutting  off  the  supply  for  the  manu- 
facture of  gas,  than  we  hear  of  the  electric  light  which  does  not  require 
the  consumption  of  coal  and  which  is  as  free  as  the  air  we  breathe,  the 
only  expense  being  in  utilizing  the  electric  element  that  burns  and  hisses 
in  the  world  around  us. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  there  should  be  large  electric  works  at  Chicago, 
for  the  West  is  particularly  prompt  in  welcoming  new  discoveries  and 
improvements.  The  old  tallow  candle  has  had  its  day.  The  oil  lamp, 
like  that  which  set  fire  to  Chicago,  is  not  equal  to  the  requirements  of 
dwellings  and  cities,  and  as  the  years  go  on  electricity  will  come  more 
and  more  into  use,  and  the  company  whose  plant  we  have  been  describ- 
ing may  find  that  its  present  business  is  only  like  the  acorn  out  of  which 
comes  the  towering  oak. 

California  Fruit  Transportation   Company. 

The  business  of  this  company  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  in  the 
city.  For  a  long  time  it  was  a  difficult  matter  to  get  the  rich  fruits  of 
California  in  our  eastern  markets.  The  company  was  organized  in  1889, 


GREAT  INDUSTRIES  OF  CHICAGO.  69 

after  it  had  been  discovered  by  repeated  tests  that  all  kinds  of  fruit  suf- 
fer by  being  placed  in  refrigerator  cars  and  transported  long  distances. 
They  keep  very  well  by  the  half- freezing  process,  yet  their  flavor  is  not 
improved,  and  when  they  are  suddenly  transferred  from  the  refrigerators 
into  the  warm  air  they  become  very  perishable  and  decay  so  rapidly  that 
great  loss  is  likely  to  be  occasioned  thereby. 

The  object  of  this  company  has  been  to  obviate  these  difficulties  and 
prevent  the  losses  following  the  old  method  of  transportation.  Various 
improvements  have  been  made  in  fruit  cars,  so  that  a  revolution  has 
taken  place  in  the  California  fruit  industry  within  a  short  time.  It  has 
been  found  that  the  most  tender  fruits  can  be  carried  two  or  three  times 
as  far  as  formerly,  and  that  they  come  out  in  a  very  satisfactory  state. 
This  has  led  to  the  opening  up  of  new  markets  whereby  the  business  has 
been  greatly  increased.  A  man  now,  in  one  of  our  eastern  towns,  on 
his  way  home  from  business,  can  carry  with  him  a  supply  of  delicious 
fruits  from  the  Pacific  coast,  two  or  three  thousand  miles  away,  and  they 
will  prove  to  be  almost  as  fresh  and  palatable  as  if  he  plucked  them  from 
their  native  trees  or  vines. 

The  company  has  constructed  its  own  cars,  merely  employing  the 
railroads  for  doing  its  business.  Its  appliances  are  unquestionably  a 
great  improvement  over  the  antiquated  methods  of  obtaining  fruits  from 
California. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
Public  Buildings  and  Institutions  of  Chicago. 

A  GREAT  improvement  in  architecture  has  lately  been  displayed 
in  all  our  American  cities.    When  the  early  settlers  built  houses 
for  themselves  they  could  pay  but  little  attention  to  the  style. 
The  easiest  and  cheapest  structure  was  the  log  hut  with  a  big 
fireplace  and  unplastered  walls.     When  the  old  log-house  of  our  fore- 
fathers was  intended  to  be  something  very  fine  it  had  a  second  floor,  acces- 
sible by  a  ladder.     The  front  door  opened  into  the  living  room  and  the 
house  was  innocent  of  anything  in  the  shape  of  a  hall.     No  porch  sur- 
rounded it  and  its  outside  ornaments  were  the  rough  ends  of  the  logs  of 
which  it  was  built. 

Yet,  as  the  man  who  lived  in  the  house  was  the  pioneer  of  a  thrifty 
race  that  was  to  follow  him,  so  the  old  log  cabin  was  the  germ  out  of 
which  have  grown  the  palatial  residences  of  Fifth  Avenue.  In  a  new 
country  but  little  attention  can  be  paid  to  architecture.  The  family  must 
be  sheltered — this  is  the  principal  thing.  After  a  while,  when  the  land 
has  been  cleared  up  and  hard  labor  has  gained  a  competency,  the  house 
can  have  a  hall,  a  stairway,  a  furnace  in  the  cellar,  fine  cornices  outside 
and,  if  it  shall  please  the  occupant,  a  cupola  perched  on  top. 

The  same  growth  is  observed  in  the  architecture  of  public  buildings. 
The  first  old  post-office  in  New  York  was  hardly  the  suggestion  of  the 
spacious  granite  building,  erected  a  few  years  ago  at  the  lower  point  of 
the  City  Hall  Park,  from  which  is  now  distributed  the  mails  for  a  conti- 
nent. As  the  country  has  grown  so  have  our  public  edifices,  and 
America  to-day  can  boast  of  some  of  the  finest  buildings  in  the  world. 
Quite  a  number  of  these  are  located  in  Chicago.  Brains  of  architects 
have  been  busy,  the  amount  of  money  furnished  has  grown  to  large  pro- 
portions, investments  of  this  description  have  been  profitable,  and  the 
result  is  seen  in  those  magnificent  structures  which  line  the  streets  of  the 
western  metropolis. 

The  "Sky-Scrapers." 

Since  the  great  fire  of  1871  an  effort  has  been  made  to  make  the  build- 
ings more  substantial  and  if  possible  fire-proof.  The  height  of  some  of 
these  amazes  the  visitor.  "  Sky-scrapers  "  they  have  been  appropriately 
called ;  they  remind  one  of  the  old  accounts  of  the  Tower  of  Babel  by 

which  the  people  tried  to  reach  heaven,  as  if  they  were  very  doubtful 
70 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 


71 


about  being  able  to  do  it  in -any  other  way.  In  the  large  buildings  of 
Chicago  best  materials  are  used  and  special  attention  is  paid  to  the  con- 
struction. The  iron  and  steel  are  tested  in  order  that  every  flaw  may  be 
discovered.  Large  use  is  made  of  fire-clay  with  which  the  metals  are 
covered,  forming  air-chambers  that  render  it  difficult  for  the  metals  to  be 
over-heated  by  even  the  hottest  fire. 

The  rapidity  with  which  the  largest  edifices  are  built  is  surprising,  and  ' 
could  only  be  done  by  the  use  of  steam  and  machinery.     The  ingenuity 
of  man  and  his  inventions  enable  him  to  work  almost  miracles.     It  was 


THE   AUDITORIUM. 

once  said  by  one  of  our  popular  orators  that  a  block  of  buildings  ten 
stories  high  could  be  run  up  in  four  months  by  an  enterprising  man,  but 
it  took  the  world  four  thousand  years  to  run 'him  up  so  that  he  could 
do  it. 

Perhaps  the  most  famous  building  is  the  Auditorium.  Its  vast  size, 
its  convenient  arrangements,  and  the  many  uses  to  which  it  is  devoted, 
have  given  it  a  great  celebrity.  The  building  is  said  to  have  cost 
$3,200,000,  exclusive  of  the  ground.  It  is  the  property  of  a  corporation 
and  is  the  pride  of  the  city.  The  theatre  which  occupies  one  part  of  the 
building  is  a  wonder  by  itself.  Its  proportions  are  such  that  it  can 
accommodate  an  immense  number  of  people. 

The  main  object  in  building  the  Auditorium  was  to  furnish  a  theatre 
where  the  great  celebrities  of  the  stage  could  make  their  appearance ; 


72  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 

especially  where  the  greatest  of  the  world's  musical  productions, 
rendered  by  the  most  famous  singers  and  musicians,  could  be  heard  by  the 
admirers  of  the  oratorio  and  the  opera.  But  a  theatre  of  this  description 
occupying  one  building  was  likely  to  be  too  expensive,  so  it  was  resolved 
to  erect  the  Auditorium,  which  could  be  devoted  to  many  additional  pur- 
poses. The  stock  is  owned  by  a  few  wealthy,  public  spirited  citizens,  yet 
the  poorest  man  in  the  city  may  consider  himself  a  sharer  in  the  advan- 
tages afforded.  The  Auditorium  has  been  adopted  by  the  town,  and  is 
regarded  as  its  common  property.  It  is  located  on  Congress  Street, 
Michigan  and  Wabash  Avenues.  The  dimensions  are  as  follows:  The 
total  street  frontage  is  710  feet;  the  height  of  the  main  building,  ten 
stories,  is  145  feet ;  tower  above  main  building  (8  floors),  95  feet ;  lantern 
tower  above  main  (2  floors),  30  feet.  Total  height,  270  feet :  weight  of 
entire  building,  110,000  tons.  Exterior  of  building,  granite  and  Bedford 
stone ;  interior,  iron,  brick,  terra  cotta,  marble,  and  hardwood  finish. 

Vast   Quantities   of  Building  Materials. 

There  are  17,000,000  brick,  50,000  square  feet  of  Italian  marble,  Mosaic 
floors  containing  5  0,000,000  pieces  of  marble,  800,000  square  feet  of  terra 
cotta,  175,000  square  feet  of  wire  lath,  60,000  square  feet  of  plate  glass, 
25  miles  of  gas  and  water  pipes,  230  miles  of  electric  wire  and  cables, 
10,000  electric  lights,  n  dynamos,  13  electric  motors  for  driving  venti- 
lating apparatus,  4  hydraulic  motors  for  driving  machinery,  1 1  boilers, 
21  pumping  engines,  13  elevators,  and  26  hydraulic  lifts  for  moving 
stage  platforms.  Ground  was  broken  January,  1887,  and  it  was  com- 
pleted Feoruary,  1890.  It  may  be  stated  that  the  permanent  seating 
capacity  of  the  Audatorium  is  over  4,000;  for  conventions,  etc.  (for  which 
the  stage  is  utilized),  about  8,000.  This  department  of  the  building  con- 
tains the  most  complete  and  costly  stage  and  organ  in  the  world.  Recita. 
Hall  seats  500.  The  business  portion  consists  of  stores  and  136  offices, 
part  of  which  are  in  the  tower.  United  States  Signal  Service  occupies 
part  of  the  seventeenth,  eighteenth,  and  nineteenth  floors  of  the  tower. 
These  departments  of  the  building  are  managed  by  the  Chicago  Audito- 
rium Association.  The  Auditorium  hotel  has  400  guest  rooms.  The 
grand  dining-room  (175  feet  long)  and  the  kitchen  are  on  the  top  floor. 
One  of  the  principal  features  of  this  superb  building  is  the  tower,  from 
which  a  fine  view  is  obtained  of  the  city  and  its  environs.  Express 
elevators  run  up  to  the  seventeenth  story  in  the  tower,  and  thence 
a  short  climb  brings  you  to  the  top.  From  this  commanding  point 
the  first  look  of  the  visitor  upon  the  dense  mass  of  buildings  below, 
the  net-work  of  streets,  the  green  and  beautiful  parks,  the  lake  stretching 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO.  73 

away  like  an  inland  sea,  and  the  open  country  on  the  oposite  side,  is 
thrilling.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  top  of  the  tower  is  a  very  attrac- 
tive point.  Thousands  make  a  visit  to  it  in  order  to  obtain  one  of  the 
most  striking  views  upon  which  the  eye  ever  rested.  The  view  from  this 
lofty  summit  reminds  one  of  the  saying  of  Daniel  Webster,  that  God  from 
His  high  eminence  looking  down  upo-n  hu  nan  beings  must  consider  them 
as  little  less  than  microscopic  insects,  and  of  very  small  account.  Believ- 
ing, however,  in  the  dignity  of  man,  he  did  not  claim  that  this  view  was 
correct.  And  certainly,  one  looking  down  from  the  tower  of  the  Audito- 
rium would  not  be  likely  to  forget  that  the  men  thronging  the  streets, 
who  seem  to  be  nothing  more  than  itsects,  have  yet  built  the  Auditorium 
and  all  the  grand  edifices  of  the  city,  and  are  not  after  all  the  insignificant 
creatures  they  appear  to  be. 

On  a  clear  day  the  Michigan  and  Indiana  shores  are  plainly  visible 
across  the  lake.  Perhaps  even  a  more  impressive  sight  is  that  witnessed 
at  night.  The  great  vault  of  heaven  is  hung  with  starry  lamps,  while  far 
below  myriads  of  gas  lights  and  electric  flames  dazzle  the  eye,  surpass- 
ing all  the  wonders  pictured  in  the  fables  of  Arabian  Nights.  Below  is 
the  great,  throbbing  city,  whose  noisy  clatter  is  muffled  by  the  distance, 
yet  reminding  one  that  the  hum  and  roar  of  its  busy  activities  never 

cease. 

Board  of  Trade  Building. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  imposing  buildings  in  Chicago.  It  dates  back 
to  1882,  its  foundations  having  been  laid  in  that  year  although  it  was  not 
completed  until  1885.  The  cost  was  $1,800,000.  The  width  is  175 
feet,  the  depth  225  feet,  and  the  materials  granite.  It  is  located  at  the 
south  end  of  La  Salle  Street,  in  the  square  bounded  by  Pacific  Avenue 
and  Jackson  and  Sherman  Streets.  One  of  its  principal  features  is  the 
main  hall  144  feet  wide  and  161  feet  deep.  The  height  of  the  ceiling 
is  eighty  feet,  and  that  of  the  tower  322  feet.  The  largest  clock  in  the 
United  States  is  located  in  this  tower.  The  building  contains  a  visitors' 
gallery  for  ladies  and  gentlemen,  and  a  separate  gallery  for  ladies  who 
visit  the  place  without  an  escort. 

The  Chicago  Board  of  Trade  is  a  powerful  organization,  its  transac- 
tions have  always  been  on  a  large  scale,  yet  its  history  had  a  humble 
beginning  and  some  of  the  incidents  related  are  very  amusing.  In  1853 
there  seemed  to  be  a  feeling  that  the  Board  would  not  be  successful 
unless  some  special  inducements  were  offered  to  the  members  to  attend. 
It  was  consequently  ordered,  after  long  and  eloquent  harangues,  that  ale, 
cheese  and  crackers  should  be  provided  daily  by  the  Secretary.  It  has 
generally  been  supposed  that  the  prospect  of  making  money  was 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO.  75 

sufficient  to  induce  men  to  attend  upon  any  ordinary  board  of  trade,  yet 
in  those  early  days  there  was  a  prevailing  impression  that,  although  men 
might  overcome  the  temptation  to  make  money,  they  could  not  resist 
ale,  cheese  and  crackers. 

These  proved  to  be  extremely  popular,  so  that  after  they  were  discon- 
tinued for  a  time  on  account  of  some  ridicule  by  the  outside  public,  the 
refreshments  were  again  ordered  in  1855,  and  the  fortunes  of  the  Board 
were  considered  to  be  no  longer  in  danger.  Most  men  are  willing  to 
eat  a  free  lunch,  and  as  many  outsiders  were  ready  to  accept  the  hospi- 
tality of  the  Board,  it  was  necessary  to  station  a  man  at  the  door  to  keep 
out  the  hungry  public,  who  were  willing  to  eat  cheese  and  crackers  but 
were  not  willing  to  become  members  of  the  Board  and  pay  the  modest 
dues. 

The  history  of  the  Board  of  Trade  is  interesting.  Although  at  the 
start  the  organization  did  not  give  any  great  promise,  and  could  not  be 
carried  on  apart  from  the  daily  picnic,  yet  it  very  soon  assumed  a  high 
degree  of  dignity  and  importance.  The  idea  of  organic  trade  grew 
rapidly  and  the  leading  live  stock  dealers,  grain  dealers,  commission 
merchants,  jobbers  and  manufacturers,  came  to  believe  that  a  combina- 
tion would  be  greatly  to  their  advantage  and  a  place  of  exchange  would 
not  only  be  convenient  but  profitable.  Figures  could  hardly  express 
now  the  amount  of  business  done  in  the  Board  of  Trade  Building. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  the  annual  footing-up  of  the  transactions  reaches 

into  the  billions. 

The  Newberry  Library. 

Chicago  has  had  noble  benefactors ;  Phil  Armour  is  one ;  Cyrus  H. 
McCormick  was  another,  and  a  third  was  Walter  L.  Newberry.  Mr. 
Newberry  left  a  large  bequest  for  founding  a  library,  which  already  con- 
tains 70,000  volumes  besides  many  thousands  of  pamphlets  and  other 
important  documents. 

The  bequest  was  made  in  1858,  and  at  that  time  was  upwards  of 
$1,000,000.  This,  by  careful  investments,  has  been  trebled,  so  that  the 
library  is  one  of  the  richest  in  the  United  States.  A  magnificent  struc- 
ture costing  $500,000  has  been  erected  on  North  Clark  Street  opposite 
Washington  Park.  The  appreciation  of  the  public  is  shown  by  the  large 
patronage  already  bestowed,  which  will  doubtless  increase  with  the 
growth  of  the  institution  and  the  increasing  provision  made  for  meeting 
the  demands  of  the  reading  community. 

The  Public  Library  occupies  the  fourth  floor  of  the  City  Hall.  It  has 
become  the  third  among  the  great  libraries  of  the  United  States,  having 
on  its  shelves  a  total  of  179,640  volumes.  This  number  is  being 


76  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 

increased  at  the  rate  of  10,000  volumes  per  year.  The  total  circulation 
in  one  year  was  1,220,479;  843,971  volumes  of  which  were  taken  for 
home  reading.  The  number  of  visitors  to  the  reading  room  was  436,41 2, 
and  those  to  the  several  reference  departments,  not  including  the  reading 
room,  was  113,531. 

The  eighteen  branch,  or  delivery  stations,  located  in  distant  parts  ol 
the  city,  have  had  an  aggregate  yearly  issue  of  201,257  volumes.  The 
library  quarters  are  frequently  visited  by  as  many  as  7,000  persons  in  one 
day.  The  great  need  of  this  valuable  institution  is  a  suitable  building  ot 
adequate  proportions  to  meet  its  growing  wants,  and  better  adapted  to 
public  access  and  convenience  than  the  fourth  floor  of  the  City  Hall. 
However,  this  want  will  soon  cease  to  exist,  as  the  City  Council,  by  ordi- 
nance, has  granted  the  right  to  use  Dearborn  Park  as  a  site  for  a  Public 
Library  building.  This  has  been  supplemented  by  an  act  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  Illinois  authorizing  the  proper  authorities  to  erect  and 
maintain  a  public  library  on  Dearborn  Park. 

By  its  provisions  the  Soldiers'  Home  is  also  authorized  to  transfer  to 
the  City  of  Chicago  its  interest  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  park,  on 
condition  that  a  memorial  hall  be  built  in  the  library  building,  for  the 
use  of  non-partisan  soldier  organizations  of  Cook  County,  for  fifty  years. 
The  site  of  the  new  library  building,  which  will  be  in  every  respect  an 
ornament  to  the  city,  generally  known  as  Dearborn  Park,  is  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Randolph  Street,  on  the  east  by  Michigan  Avenue,  on  the 
south  by  Washington  Street  and  on  the  west  by  an  alley  known  as  Dear- 
born Place.  The  Directors  of  the  Public  Library  have  taken  possession 
of  the  ground,  have  made  the  plans,  and  the  new  building  is  an  accom- 
plished fact.  The  Chicago  Public  Library  was  the  recipient  of  a  gold 
medal  from  the  Paris  Exposition  as  an  award  for  a  display  of  the  best 
system  of  conducting  library  affairs.  The  principal  libraries  of  the  East 
were  competitors  for  the  honor.  Thus  Chicago,  in  this,  as  in  most 
things,  leads  all  competitors. 

The  Academy  of  Sciences. 

This  institution  was  founded  in  1857,  and  like  many  others  was  a 
sufferer  in  the  great  fire,  its  fine  collection  being  at  that  time  destroyed 
together  with  the  building  it  occupied.  The  Academy  holds  high  rank 
among  scientific  institutions,  while  its  collection  is  said  to  rank  fifth  at 
the  present  time  among  the  museums  of  the  world.  A  visit  to  this  place 
will  repay  anyone  who  is  interested  in  the  natural  sciences.  Few  learned 
bodies  are  more  enterprising  and  few  have  been  more  successful  in  scien- 
tific research. 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO.  77 

We  may  also  mention  here  the  Chicago  Historical  Society  which  was 
organized  in  1856.  It  was  a  very  flourishing  institution  at  the  time  of 
the  fire,  with  a  large  library  and  a  valuable  collection,  occupying  a  build- 
ing of  generous  dimensions  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Dearborn  Avenue 
and  Ontario  Street.  Among  its  valuable  papers  was  the  original  draft 
of  President  Lincoln's  Emancipation  Proclamation.  This  was  destroyed 
by  the  fire,  with  over  100,000  books  and  valuable  manuscripts,  and  a 
number  of  paintings  that  were  highly  prized.  The  institution  has  par- 
tially recovered  from  this  very  severe  loss  and  is  now  one  of  the  central 
points  of  interest  to  all  interested  in  historical  subjects. 

Chicago  is  alive  to  the  importance  of  preserving  historical  records, 
and  although  the  'oss  of  the  Historical  Library  by  fire  can  never  be  fully 
repaired  the  institution  is  making  every  effort  to  carry  out  the  object  it 
has  in  view.  The  value  of  correct  history  is  always  seen  with  the  lapse 
of  time,  and  as  our  country  grows  older  the  necessity  of  having  accu- 
rate records  will  become  more  apparent.  The  future  historian  who 
would  write  for  succeeding  generations  will  find  our  historical  libraries 
treasure  houses  of  rich  and  valuable  information.  In  providing  these, 
Chicago  does  not  mean  to  be  behind  any  of  the  sister  cities. 

Libby  Prison  and  "War  Museum. 

Next  to  Andersonville,  Libby  Prison,  the  palace  prison  of  the  Con- 
federates, was  the  most  famous  of  any  during  the  Civil  War.  It  was 
located  at  Richmond,  Va.,  and  at  one  time  and  another  more  than  40.000 
Union  officers  and  enlisted  men  were  lodged  within  its  walls.  Many  are 
living  to-day  who  have  vivid  recollections  of  the  place,  and  who  do  not 
need  a  sight  of  the  original  structure  to  recall  its  history. 

The  project  was  formed  to  remove  old  Libby  bodily  to  Chicago,  and 
erect  it  there  as  a  historic  relic,  making  it  a  War  Museum  to  contain  all 
sorts  of  mementoes  of  the  great  struggle.  The  undertaking  was  a  very 
great  one.  The  contract  for  hauling  the  material  was  given  to  the 
Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company.  It  required  132  cars,  each  of 
twenty  tons  capacity,  to  convey  the  building  to  its  present  site.  The 
building  was  carefully  taken  apart  and  every  beam,  brace,  board,  stick  of 
timber,  in  short,  all  the  parts  were  carefully  numbered,  so  that  the  old 
prison  could  be  re-erected  just  as  it  was  built  at  first.  As  soon  as  one 
car  was  loaded  and  ready  for  shipment  it  was  closed  and  sealed  and 
immediately  forwarded  to  Chicago. 

The  work  of  removal  began  In  December,  1888,  and  the  Museum  was 
open  to  the  public  September  21,  1889.  It  has  been  visited  by  crowds 
of  interested  sight-seers,  and  the  success  of  the  enterprise  shows  the 


78  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 

discernment  of  the  business  men  who  planned  it,  while  at  the  same  time  the 
Museum  serves  an  important  use  in  preserving  the  relics  and  memorials 
of  the  war.  New  objects  of  interest  are  constantly  added,  and  the 
Museum  contains  not  only  the  best  collections  of  Union  relics  but  of 
Confederate,  also.  In  carrying  out  the  undertaking  there  was  no  inten- 
tion of  keeping  alive  sectional  animosities.  Every  part  of  the  country  is 
interested  in  Libby  Prison  and  the  War  Museum,  and  here  the  man  who 
fought  for  the  South  and  the  man  who  fought  for  the  North  can  meet, 
and  in  the  presence  of  the  old  flags,  guns,  bayonets  and  bullets,  they  can 
shake  hands  and  thank  God  for  the  end  of  the  bloody  strife. 


LIBBY    PRISON    AND    WAR    MUSEUM. 

The  Unity  Office  Building  is  located  on  east  side  of  Dearborn  Street, 
between  Washington  and  Randolph  Streets.  It  is  sixteen  stories  high, 
is  fire -proof,  and  cost  about  $1,000,000.  The  main  frame-work  of  the 
building  is  of  iron  and  steel,  and  is  so  arranged  as  to  make  the  edifice  as 
strong  as  possible.  Of  the  outer  walls,  the  lower  two  and  one-half 
stories  are  of  Bay  of  Fundy  red  granite,  and  the  remainder  are  of  the 
finest  quality  of  buff-colored,  pressed  brick  and  terra-cotta.  All  the 
floors  are  constructed  of  strong  tile  arches,  supported  by  steel  beams. 
The  partitions  are  of  hollow  tile  and  crystalline  glass.  The  floors  in 
the  office  are  of  hard  wood.  The  halls  are  lined  with  white  Italian 
marble,  and  have  mosaic  ornamental  tile  floors.  The  wood  trimmings 
in  the  offices  are  of  antique  oak.  The  stairway  is  of  steel  Avith  marble 
treads. 

There  are  six  high-speed  hydraulic  passenger  elevators  and  a  freight 
elevator  reached  by  separate  entrances.  The  building  is  heated  with 
steam  and  lighted  with  electricity.  Especial  attention  has  been  paid  to 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 


79 


the  vaults.  Instead  of  a  simple  hollow  tile  vault  usually  found  in  fire- 
proof buildings,  the  building  has  steel  vaults  covered  with  tile,  and  the 
company  supplies  these  vaults  with  as  many  boxes  made  of  Japanned 
tin,  and  having  locks,  as  the  tenants  may  need.  The  management  con- 
sults the  wishes  of  the  tenants  in  everything,  and  is  attentive  to  all  their 
wants.  The  office  fittings  of  the  building  are  complete  in  every  detail. 
The  Phcenix  Insurance  Building  is  ten  stories  high,  the  uppermost  being 
22  feet  in  height.  The  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $7,000,000.  The 
ground  area  is  50  by  214  feet.  It  is  located  on  Pacific  Avenue  and  faces 
the  Board  of  Trade  Building.  Brown  stone  was  brought  from  Vert 
Island  for  the  lower  three  stories,  the  remainder  being  constructed  of  red 
pressed  brick  and  terra-cotta.  The  woodwork  throughout  is  mahogany, 
while  all  the  halls  and  stairways  are  made  entirely  of  white  marble,  the 


SIEGEL    AND    COOPER  S     RETAIL     STORE. 

latter  being  furnished  with  bronze  rails.  No  expense  was  spared  upon 
the  interior  which  is  one  of  the  handsomest  in  the  United  States.  Five 
express  elevators  run  from  the  ground  to  the  upper  floors. 

The  general  western  offices  of  the  Phcenix  Insurance  Company  are 
located  in  this  building,  the  apartments  being  conspicuous  for  their 
elegance  and  convenience.  These  cover  a  floor  space  of  fifty  feet  by  two 
hundred  and  ten,  are  twenty-two  feet  high,  and  the  entire  area  is  unbroken 
by  columns,  thus  affording  offices  whose  palatial  appearance  impresses 
every  visitor.  A  vast  amount  of  business  is  carried  on  in  this  building 
which  is  one  of  the  attractions  of  Chicago. 

On  State  Street,  extending  from  Van  Buren  to  Congress  Street,  is  the 
magnificent  store  of  Siegel,  Cooper  and  Co.  The  length  is  402  feet,  the 
depth  143,  and  the  height  133,  comprising  eight  stories  with  basement 


80  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 

and  attic.     Every  effort  was  made  to  render  the  building  fire-proof,  iron 
and  steel  being  mainly  used  in  its  construction. 

The  business  of  this  great  establishment  is  divided  into  sixty-one 
departments,  thus  providing  for  a  thorough  and  systematic  management. 
It  would  be  difficult  to  find  any  commodity  which  the  store  does  not 
contain.  The  departments  of  dry  goods,  hardware,  clothing,  etc.,  are  as 
complete  and  attractive  as  if  each  occupied  a  building  by  itself  and  formed 
a  separate  business.  A  force  of  1, 800  clerks  is  required  to  attend  to  the 
customers  who  throng  the  place.  The  area  of  the  different  floors  is  about 
fifteen  acres,  and  all  the  available  space  is  occupied.  This  is  one  of  the 
largest  retail  stores  in  the  world.  Everything  required  for  household 
use  may  be  purchased.  If  you  want  a  paper  of  pins  or  a  sideboard,  a 
spool  of  thread  or  a  party  dress,  an  ounce  of  tea  or  a  barrel  of 
flour,  you  can  obtain  them  here.  The  comfort  of  the  great 
shopping  community  is  considered  by  providing  waiting  rooms,  a 
well-appointed  restaurant,  a  drinking  fountain,  and  counters  for  the  sale 
of  confectionery. 

The  principle  upon  which  the  establishment  is  conducted  is  the  very 
liberal  one  of  supplying  whatever  the  public  wants,  and  it  is  needless  to 
add  that  the  store  is  a  place  of  popular  resort.  It  is  somewhat  remark- 
able that  the  credit  system  has  not  been  allowed  to  come  into  general 
use.  You  buy  what  you  want  and  pay  for  what  you  get.  The  manage- 
ment claims  that  by  doing  a  cash  business  it  is  able  to  make  better  terms 
to  its  customers.  Purchases  that  are  not  entirely  satisfactory  can  be 
returned  in  ten  days.  The  store  is  easy  of  access  by  cable  cars  and  other 
modes  of  conveyance,  and  is  within  easy  distance  of  the  principal  rail- 
way depots  and  hotels  which  will  account  in  some  measure  for  its 

success. 

The  Post-office. 

Located  in  the  square  bounded  by  Adams  Street  on  the  north,  Dear- 
born Street  on  the  east,  Jackson  Street  on  the  south  and  Clark  Street  on 
the  west,  this  building  is,  properly  speaking,  in  the  very  heart  of  the 
South  Side  business  district.  The  site  is  all  that  could  be  desired,  and 
cost  the  government  $1,000,000  at  the  time  the  building  was  com- 
menced, immediately  after  the  great  fire  of  1871.  This  site,  like  other 
real  estate  in  that  vicinity  has  at  least  doubled  in  value  since  that 
time.  For  the  building  the  government  appropriated  $4,000,000. 
The  dimensions  of  the  structure  are  243  by  211  feet,  and  its  utmost 
height  197  feet.  The  building  is  in  the  Florentine-Romanesque  style 
of  architecture  and  of  the  Buena  Vista,  Ohio,  sandstone — a  very  fine 
grained  stone  of  rich  but  gray-brown  color. 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 


81 


It  was  supposed  that  it  would  furnish  sufficient  facilities  for  at  least 
fifty  years.  As  a  matter  of  fact  the  business  outgrew  the  structure  in  ten 
years.  A  new  postoffice  building  to  cost  about  $6,000,000  will  soon  be 
erected  on  the  same  site.  The  upper  floors  of  the  old  building  are  occu- 
pied by  the  Government  offices,  also  the  United  States  courts  and  cus- 
torn  house.  The  first  floor  and  basement  are  occupied  as  the  postoffice. 
About  i, 600  men  are  employed  in  the  collection,  sorting  and  delivery  of 
letters,  newspapers,  etc.  The  annual  increase  of  business  done  by  the 


CHICAGO    POST-OFFICE. 

Chicago  Postoffice  is  \2l/2  per  cent.  During  the  year  of  the  World's 
Fair  (1893)  it  is  estimated  that  the  receipts  of  this  office  will  exceed 
$6,000,000. 

Besides  the  general  postoffice  there  are  eleven  carrier  stations  and 
twenty-two  sub-postal  stations.  The  jurisdiction  of  the  postmaster  of  the 
Chicago  Postoffice  covers  less  than  one-third  of  the  area  of  the  city 

proper  ;  the  outlying  postoffices  number  fifty-three.     In  time,  no  doubt, 
6 


82  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 

these  offices  in  the  new  annexations  will  be  abolished,  and  all  this  vast 
business  will  be  under  one  head.  Mails  are  received'  and  dispatched  at 
the  general  postoffice  at  all  hours  during  week  days,  and  several  times 
during  the  night.  There  is  scarcely  a  point  of  any  importance  in  the 
United  States  for  which  a  mail  is  not  made  up  at  least  twice  a  day,  and 
in  some  instances  more  frequently.  Foreign  mails  are  dispatched  in  time 
to  catch  the  out-going  steamers  from  New  York  and  San  Francisco. 
The  time  of  closing  these  mails  is  posted  at  the  general  office  and  stations. 
Letters  are  delivered  in  all  parts  of  the  city  by  carriers  at  almost 
hourly  intervals,  from  8  A.  M.  to  7  P.  M.  during  week-days.  On  Sure- 
days  there  are  no  deliveries,  but  two  collections  are  made  from  the  lamp- 
post boxes.  The  general  postoffice  is  open  at  all  hours  during  the  day 
and  night  on  week-days.  Certain  departments,  however,  are  closed' 
after  9  P.  M.  It  is  also  open  from  9  to  1 1  A.  M.  on  Sundays.  Stamps, 
may  be  bought  at  the  general  office  or  sub-stations. 

The   First    Post-office. 

The  old  Kinzie  house  appears  to  have  served  among  its  multifarious 
and  successive  uses,  as  Chicago's  first  postoffice.  Anyway,  when,  in 
1831,  this  city  was  given  a  place  among  the  postal  towns,  Jonathan  N. 
Bailey  was  appointed  postmaster ;  and,  as  there  is  no  record  of  any 
special  office  being  secured,  it  is  probable  that  the  mails  were  distributed 
from  the  new  official's  residence,  the  old  Kinzie  house.  At  this  time 
Niles,  Mich.,  was  the  nearest  distributing  office,  and  from  that  place  the 
mails  came  fortnightly  by  horseback  to  Chicago.  But  by  1833  the 
horseback  mail  service  from  Niles  had  doubled  in  frequency,  while  the 
office  had  risen  to  the  dignity  of  occupying  half  a  log  cabin,  20  by  45 
feet  in  extent,  near  the  corner  of  Lake  and  South  Water  Streets,  the 
portion  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  official  partition  being  occupied  as  a 
store  by  Brewster,  Hogan  and  Co.,  the  second  member  of  which  firm — 
John  S.  C.  Hogan — was  then  postmaster. 

From  this  date  until  1860,  when  the  Government  Building  was  com- 
pleted, seven  or  more  different  removes  were  made  to  accommodate  the 
growing  business  of  the  office.  This  first  Federal  building  stood  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  Dearborn  and  Monroe  Streets,  and  was  burnt  out  in 
the  fire  of  1871,  the  mails,  however,  having  been  saved.  The  building 
was  afterward  repaired  and  became  the  new  Adelphi,  afterward  Haverly's 
Theatre,  until  1881,  when  it  was  torn  down,  and  replaced  by  the  First 
National  Bank  Building,  which  now  occupies  the  site. 

After  the  fire,  the  postoffice  occupied  successively,  Burlington  Hall, 
corner  of  Sixteenth  and  State  Streets,  and  the  Wabash  Avenue  Methodist 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 


83 


Church  building,  northwest  corner  of  Wabash   Avenue  and  Harrison 
Street,  until  that  building  was  destroyed  in  the  conflagration  of  1874. 


UNION    LEAGUE    CLUB. 


After  this,  it  was  located  in  turn  at  Washington  and  Halstead  Streets 
(now  the  West-Division  sub-office);  the  Honore  building,  northwest 
corner  Dearborn  and  Adams  Streets,  where  it  was  again  burnt  out;  the 


84 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 


basement  of  the  Singer  building  corner  of  State  and  Washington 
Streets  ;  and  finally,  since  April  29,  1879,  the  new  Government  Building, 
at  the  southeast  corner  of  Clark  and  Adams  Streets,  where  it  is  perman- 
ently located. 

Union  League  Club. 

This  building  stands  at  the  corner  of  Jackson  Street  and  Custom 
House  Place,  opposite  the  postoffice,  and  has  a  central,  convenient  loca- 
tion. Its  height  is  seven  stories,  with  a  basement,  and  is  surmounted  by 
a  circular  tower  with  a  cupola  at  the  corner.  The  material  is  red  brick, 
with  terra  cotta  trimmings  ;  the  interior  is  beautiful  and  finely  finished, 
and  the  arrangement  of  apartments  is  such  as  to  leave  nothing  to  be 
desired.  The  Chicago  Club  was  organized  in  1879  and  forms  a  part  of 
r_.ai_  the  Union  League  of  America.  The  con- 

dition of  membership  in  all  the  Union 
League  clubs  of  the  United  States  is  absolute 
loyalty  to  the  Government.  Thus  the 
League  is  a  national  organization  and  is  not 
confined  to  any  political  party,  although  it 
may  be  said  that  in  its  membership  the  two 
great  parties  are  not  equally  represented. 
The  Chicago  Club,  like  the  Union  Leagues 
elsewhere,  is  social  in  its  character,  afford- 
ing a  pleasant  place  of  resort  for  reading, 
discussions  and  social  intercourse. 

The  Ashland  Building  is  situated  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  Clark  and  Randolph 
Streets  on  each  of  which  there  is  a 
spacious  entrance.  On  account  of  its  great 
height  it  was  thought  best  to  put  in  heavy 
wind-bracing  in  order  to  afford  absolute  security  against  the  gales  which 
have  given  Chicago  the  name  of  the  "  Windy  City."  The  columns,  beams 
and  girders  are  made  of  the  strongest  steel,  which  was  amply  tested 
before  it  was  used.  The  floors  of  the  halls  are  mosaic  work  and  richly 
inlaid.  Elsewhere  they  are  made  of  maple-finished  wood. 

The  offices  on  the  upper  floors  are  well  ventilated,  spacious  and  invit- 
ing. The  building  is  sixteen  stories  high  and  the  top  of  the  cornice  is 
200  feet  from  the  ground.  The  walls  of  red  pressed  brick,  with  terra- 
cotta trimmings,  give  the  building  an  attractive  appearance.  Seven 
elevators  are  in  constant  use.  The  entire  cost  of  this  splendid  building 
was  $650,000.  The  introduction  of  the  automatic  steam  governor  ther- 
mometer by  which  the  ventilation  can  be  regulated,  together  with  the 


ASHLAND    BUILDING. 


86  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 

temperature,  adds  greatly  to  the  comfort  of  the  occupants  of  the 
building. 

Nothing  is  wanting  to  make  this  one  of  the  most  magnificent  struc- 
tures ever  used  for  business  purposes.  It  is  massive  without  presenting 
a  heavy  appearance.  The  skill  of  the  designer  has  been  displayed  in  all 
the  details;  the  heating,  ventilating  and  electric  lighting  apparatus  is  the 
best  to  be  obtained  ;  the  marble  used  in  the  halls  gives  them  a  light  and 
cheerful  aspect ;  the  large  open  court  inside  the  structure  furnishes  an 
abundance  of  light  to  the  offices  adjacent  to  it ;  the  entrances  are 
spacious ;  the  plumbing  arrangements  are  perfect,  and  the  building  rep- 
resents the  most  recent  improvements  and  attractive  architecture. 

The  first  three  floors  are  designed  for  large  business  establishments, 
while  the  other  floors  are  used  for  offices.  Every  effort  has  been  made 
to  render  the  building  fire-proof,  and  this  object  has  been  realized  as  far 
as  it  can  be  in  any  building.  It  is  not  safe  to  make  our  statements  too 
strong,  since  it  was  found  in  the  great  fire  in  1871  that  "fire-proof" 
structures  made  excellent  fuel  and  burned  like  pine  chips. 

Title  and   Trust  Building. 

The  Chicago  Title  and  Trust  Company  was  formed  to  insure  titles  to 
real  estate.  Its  business  is  of  such  a  nature  that  it  requires  the  most 
skillful  management,  by  the  most  conservative  methods.  This  company 
understands  very  well  the  value  of  county  records. 

It  has  an  imposing  building  situated  upon  Washington  Street.  The 
superb  structure  is  seventeen  stories  high,  and  its  cost,  including  that  of 
the  ground,  was  $1,300,000.  This  is  an  immense  sum  of  money  to  be 
put  into  one  building,  but  the  success  of  the  company  and  its  ample 
resources  warranted  its  erection.  Of  course,  it  is  to  a  very  great  extent 
an  investment,  and  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  it  will  prove  to  be 
profitable.  The  company's  offices  occupy  the  first  floor  and  basement 
for  the  trust,  title,  insurance  and  abstract  departments  ;  for  the  company 
not  only  insures  titles  to  real  estate,  but  a  part  of  its  business  consists  in 
issuing  abstracts  of  titles. 

The  books  and  papers  of  the  concern  are  extremely  valuable,  hence 
fire-proof  vaults,  made  as  strong  and  secure  as  possible,  are  provided  for 
storing  records.  The  construction  of  these  vaults  involved  a  great  cost, 
and  they  are  among  the  best  known.  The  floors  above  are  used  for 
offices.  There  is  a  large  number  of  these,  all  of  which  are  well  ventilated 
and  have  an  abundance  of  light.  An  artesian  well  on  the  premises  sup- 
plies plenty  of  water  for  the  use  of  the  tenants  and  for  running  the  eleva- 
tors. The  management  is  very  careful  as  to  how  its  business  is 


87 


88  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 

conducted,  the  wants  of  the  occupants  of  the  building  are  always  con- 
sulted, and  this  office  building  is  one  of  the  best  of  its  kind  in  the  city. 

No  other  building  in  Chicago  is  so  familiar  to  the  people  of  the 
country  as  the  Interstate  Industrial  Building.  Beneath  its  spacious 
roof,  year  after  year,  have  been  exhibited  the  rich  products  of  field, 
forest  and  mine,  together  with  the  ingenious  and  useful  contrivances  of 
man,  from  the  tiny  puzzle-maker  to  the  mammoth  thresher.  The  hum  of 
machinery,  softened  by  the  music  of  playing  fountains,  has  filled  the  air, 
while  people  of  every  state  and  nation  touched  elbows  about  the  display 
stands.  Here,  too,  the  voices  of  Conkling,  and  Garfield,  and  Logan 
have  been  heard  in  impassioned  oratory.  High  ambitions  have  been 
crushed  and  modest  worth  exalted  in  the  numerous  conventions,  national 
and  state,  religious  and  secular,  that  have  been  held  within  its  walls. 
The  building  is  nearly  800  feet  in  length,  by  240  feet  in  width.  It  has 
three  lofty  towers,  and  its  roof  is  supported  without  the  aid  of  pillar  and 
column.  The  view  of  the  entire  interior  is  thus  unobstructed.  It  will 
readily  accommodate  20,000  people. 

City  Hall  and  Court  House. 

Nearly  all  of  the  fine  buildings  in  Chicago  at  the  present  time  stand 
upon  ground  that  was  burned  over  by  the  fire.  The  hot  flames  of  the 
great  conflagration  swept  away  old  rookeries,  tumble-down  edifices, 
rattle-trap  structures  that  ought  to  have  been  burned  up  long  before  they 
were.  That  fire  was  Chicago's  great  cleaning-up  spell.  It  swept  the 
ground  and  prepared  the  way  for  better  buildings,  finer  architecture,  and 
a  new  city  which  is  far  superior  to  the  old.  Still  it  must  not  be  sup- 
posed that  there  were  no  costly  public  buildings  before  the  fire.  Even  at 
that  time  Chicago  compared  favorably  in  this  respect  with  other  cities. 

The  original  County  Court  House  and  City  Hall,  forming  one  build- 
ing, was  completed  in  1870,  and  was  not  by  any  means  an  inferior  struc- 
ture. Marble  was  brought  from  Lockport,  New  York,  and  sandstone 
from  Lemont,  Illinois,  thus  affording  the  very  best  of  materials  in  its 
construction.  It  was  located  in  the  middle  of  a  square  where  the  fire 
overtook  it.  It  had  a  tower  and  an  eleven  thousand-pound  bell,  which 
rang  out  the  alarm  of  fire,  and  continued  the  peal  until  the  tower  top- 
pled and  fell.  Temporary  accommodations  were  procured  at  the  corner 
of  La  Salle  and  Adams  Streets,  where  the  famous  "  Rookery  Building  " 
now  stands.  Here  for  a  time  the  city  offices  were  located,  and  the  quar- 
ters have  been  pronounced  the  shabbiest  of  any  ever  occupied  as  a  City 
Hall.  At  that  time,  however,  no  great  amount  of  picking  and  choosing 
could  be  done,  for  there  was  nothing  to  choose  from  except  mountainous 


90  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 

piles  of  brick,  stone,  iron,  steel,  and  all  the  debris  and  rubbish  left 
by  the  fiery  storm  that  swept  the  city.  These  quarters,  known  as  the 
old  "  Rookery,"  were  given  up  in  1885,  and  the  offices  of  the  county  and 
city  were  located  in  the  fine  building  now  occupied. 

This  is  situated  at  Clark  and  Washington  Streets,  and  is  complete  in 
all  its  appointments.  The  City  Hall  and  Court  House  have  been  called 
twin  structures,  for  they  are  built  upon  one  plan,  and  are  connected  by  a 
central  rotunda.  The  style  of  architecture  chosen  for  the  edifice  was 
modern  French  renaissance.  The  interiors  of  the  buildings  differ  in 
arrangement  and  appearance,  that  of  the  City  Hall  being  finished  in 
white  oak  with  much  coloring,  while  that  of  the  Court  House  is  more 
subdued  and  rich.  The  building  has  four  stories  and  a  basement,  or 
ground  floor,  which  in  the  design  are  treated  in  three  divisions,  the 
ground  floor  and  first  story  forming  the  sub-structure,  or  basement,  of 
the  building,  the  second  and  third  stories  a  peristyled  superstructure, 
while  the  fourth  story,  with  its  pediments,  forms  the  attic  loft.  The 
facades  of  the  building  are  principally  of  Bedford  sandstone,  while  the 
thirty- five  feet  Corinthian  columns  of  the  peristyle  are  of  polished  Maine 
granite.  The  basement  supports  a  heavy  entablature,  massive  rather 
than  ornate;  but  the  architrave,  frieze  and  cornice  of  the  entablature  sur- 
mounting the  peristyle  are  quite  elaborate,  and  in  the  County  Building 
the  attic  story  is  lavishly  decorated  with  caryatides  and  other  ornamen- 
tal devices ;  in  the  City  Building  it  is  plainer. 

The  public  library,  already  described,  occupies  the  fifth  floor.  The  far- 
famed  apartments  of  the  high  and  mighty  council  are  on  the  fourth  floor, 
while  the  sub-basement  is  used  for  an  engine  room.  There  are  elevators 
at  both  ends  of  the  main  corridor  and  in  the  rotunda.  This  magnificent 
building  cost  $4,400,000,  an  expenditure  which  seems  somewhat  lavish, 
yet  it  has  given  to  the  county  and  city  a  building  which  is  at  once  an 
ornament  to  Chicago  and  a  convenient  place  for  the  transaction  of  public 
business. 

Rookery    Building. 

After  the  great  fire  of  1871  th*  municipality  erected  for  temporary  use 
a  two-story  brick  building  on  the  half  block  bounded  by  La  Salle,  Adams 
and  Quincy  Streets,  and  the  alley  between  La  Salle  and  Clark  Streets, 
and  called  it  the  City  Hall.  It  was  also  occupied  by  the  Courts.  The 
structure  was  put  up  in  great  haste  and  without  regard  to  architectural 
beauty.  It  is  stated  that  pigeons  used  to  flock  to  the  building,  induced 
thither  by  a  glass  roof  which  surmounted  a  disused  water  tank  which  occu- 
pied the  centre  of  the  structure  and  by  the  oats  which  fell  from  the  feed-bags 
which  the  fire  marshals  used  for  their  horses  on  the  Ouincv  Street  side. 


• 


ADAMS    AND    LA    SALLE    STREETS SHOWING    THE    ROOKERY 

AND    BOARD    OF    TRADE    BUILDINGS. 


91 


92  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 

The  story  goes  that  one  day  a  gentleman  marched  into  Mayor  Medill's 
office  to  complain  of  the  pigeon  nuisance  and  spoke  of  the  building  as  a 
"  rookery."  Whether  this  was  the  real  origin  of  the  term  or  not.  the 
newspaper  reporters  got  into  the  habit  of  calling  the  building  the  "  rook- 
ery," and  it  was  generally  understood  that  they  alluded  to  the  dilapidated 
condition  of  the  structure,  which  from  the  day  it  was  finished  began  to 
fall  to  pieces.  At  any  rate  the  name  clung  to  it  as  long  as  the  building 
stood,  and  when  the  present  magnificent  structure  took  its  place  its 
owners  decided  to  retain  it. 

Chicago  people  are  not  exactly  settled  in  their  minds  as  to  whether 
the  "Rookery"  or  the  "Chamber  of  Commerce"  is  the  finest  office 
building  in  the  city.  The  Rookery  is  the  larger,  however,  and  in  many 
respects  the  most  elegant  of  the  office  structures.  It  cost,  exclusive  of 
the  ground  upon  which  it  stands  (the  property  of  the  municipality),  very 
nearly  $1,500,000.  It  is  finished  in  the  most  expensive  fashion  through- 
out. There  isn't  a  cheap  feature  connected  with  it.  The  grand  rotunda 
is  in  itself  a  beautiful  bit  of  architecture,  but  the  building  to  be  properly 
appreciated  must  be  taken  as  a  whole.  There  is  not  a  commercial  struc- 
ture in  the  world  that  compares  with  it  in  size,  in  elegance  or  in 
convenience. 

There  are  three  distinct  groups  of  elevators,  two  on  the  La  Salle  Street 
and  one  on  the  Monroe  Street  side,  and  the  people  occupying  the  top 
floors  are  practically  as  well  situated,  so  far  as  accessibility  is  concerned, 
as  those  on  the  first  floor.  The  mosaic  work  in  the  structure  is  superb. 
Like  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  Home  Insurance  buildings,  the 
wainscoting  is  all  of  Italian  marble.  Every  room  in  the  building  is  lighted 
perfectly.  There  is  not  the  slightest  jar  felt  here,  and  those  in  the  upper 
stories  are  practically  removed  from  the  noise  and  bustle  of  the  streets 
below.  There  are  over  600  offices  here,  all  occupied,  the  tenants  being 
principally  Board  of  Trade  men,  agents  of  Eastern  and  foreign  mercantile 
houses,  agents  of  manufacturing  concerns,  real-estate  dealers,  brokers 
and  lawyers.  You  should  go  through  the  building,  beginning  at  the 
top.  It  will  consume  an  hour  or  two,  perhaps,  but  it  will  be  time  well 
spent. 

Marshall  Field  and  Co.'s  Building. 

This  company  has  a  building  devoted  to  its  wholesale  trade  and 
another  is  used  for  its  retail  business.  The  wholesale  warehouse  is  built 
of  granite  and  brown  stone,  and  has  eight  floors,  each  covering  a  space  of 
about  an  acre  and  a  half,  thus  containing  in  all  a  floor  space  of  about 
twelve  acres.  Notwithstanding  these  vast  accommodations  they  are 
none  too  great  for  the  immense  business  done  by  the  company,  the 


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94  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 

success  of  which  affords  one  of  many  striking  illustrations  of  individual 
enterprise,  so  noticeable  in  our  western  cities.  This  magnificent  struc- 
ture covers  the  entire  square  bounded  by  Fifth  Avenue,  Adams,  Quincy 
and  Franklin  Streets.  The  central  portion  comprises  a  large  room  about 
175  feet  square,  which  is  occupied  by  the  executive  department  and  its 
offices.  Two  parallel  fire  walls  extending  through  the  entire  building 
divide  it  into  three  sections.  There  is  a  very  spacious  counting  room, 
affording  accommodations  for  190  clerks  and  bookkeepers.  Adjacent  to 
these  are  the  private  offices  of  the  members  of  the  firm.  The  business  is 
divided  into  thirty-four  departments,  and  is  carried  on  by  a  force  of  1,700 
men.  So  rapid  are  the  fluctuations  of  business  in  Chicago,  so  great  the 
increase  in  prosperous  times,  that  it  is  difficult  to  give  reliable  statistics 
of  the  amount  of  sales.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  every  week  nearly  one 
million  dollars  worth  of  merchandise  is  shipped  from  the  establishment. 

A  Magnificent  Retail  Store. 

The  retail  department  of  the  company  is  located  at  the  corner  of  State 
and  Washington  Streets.  This  large,  convenient  and  attractive  building 
is  scarcely  adequate  to  the  wants  of  the  concern.  It  is  a  very  busy 
place  at  all  hours  of  the  day.  The  interior  of  the  main  building  is  pure 
white,  and  an  open  quadrangle,  constructed  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining 
light,  is  one  of  the  main  features  of  the  structure.  Around  the  four 
sides  of  this  quadrangle  are  resting  places  for  ladies,  and  waiting  rooms 
where,  during  the  intervals  of  shopping,  they  can  chat  with  friends' 
study  the  faces  and  the  dresses  of  the  crowd,  write  letters  or  figure  up  the 
amounts  of  their  purchases.  There  is  also  an  attractive  tea-room  for 
ladies,  situated  on  one  of  the  upper  floors  and  providing  a  great  variety 
of  refreshments.  Everything  has  the  appearance  of  neatness  and  com- 
fort and  the  service  is  prompt  and  efficient.  On  an  average  about  1,500 
persons  visit  the  tea-room  daily. 

During  the  last  decade  the  facilities  of  street  cars  and  great  numbers 
of  suburban  trains  have  favored  the  growth  of  department  stores  in  con- 
nection with  the  retail  dry  goods  and  notion  stores  in  the  business  center 
on  State  Street  and  Wabash  Avenue.  Thirteen  firms  employ  about 
10,000  persons  in  the  busy  season  within  the  walls  of  thirteen  retail 
establishments,  in  the  proportion  of  two  males  to  three  females,  and 
including  a  great  proportion  of  boys  and  girls.  The  department  stores 
are  crowded  at  all  hours  of  the  day,  which  proves  that  a  large  proportion 
of  female  housekeepers  have  an  abundance  of  time  to  buy  their  supplies 
at  a  great  distance  from  their  dwelling  places.  Clothing,  wearing 
apparel,  furniture^  jewelry,  books,  and  other  goods  are  sold  in  immense 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO.  95 

quantities  in  a  comparatively  small  territory  of  the  business  center, 
furnishing  employment  for  one-fifth  of  the  total  number  who  work  for 
retail  trade  in  the  whole  city. 

The  thirteen-story  high  Chamber  of  Commerce  Building  on  La  Salle 
and  Washington  Streets  was  completed  in  January,  1891.  Its  total  cost 
was  in  the  neighborhood  of  $2,000,000.  The  building  is  notable  for  its 
magnificent  interior  court,  reaching  from  the  main  floor  to  the  skylight. 
Around  the  court  are  the  galleries  upon  which  the  offices  open.  The 
interior  is  finished  in  marble  and  iron  work  of  ornamental  design.  Nine 
passenger  and  freight  elevators  are  provided  and  kept  constantly  busy 
with  the  thousand  or  more  tenants.  Brick,  stone  of  a  light  color,  iron, 
and  steel  were  used  in  the  construction  of  this  magnificent  structure. 
The  site  is  historical  as  that  of  the  old  Chamber  of  Commerce  Building, 
so  long  occupied  by  the  Board  of  Trade.  It  is  immediately  opposite  the 
City  Hall  and  Court  House.  The  trio  of  buildings  form  a  massive,  grand 
and  imposing  scene  that  is  hard  to  equal  in  any  city. 

Chicago  Mechanics'  Institute. 

This,  next  to  the  Rush  Medical  College,  is  the  oldest  organization  in 
the  city.  It  was  chartered  in  1843.  Its  object  is  the  diffusion  of  knowl- 
edge among  the  mechanic  classes,  by  means  of  lectures,  class  instruction, 
and  a  circulating  library.  It  had  a  valuable  library  which  was  destroyed 
by  fire  in  1871.  For  the  past  number  of  years  it  has  done  all  its  educa- 
tional work  through  the  Chicago  Athenaeum.  The  course  of  instruction 
includes  reading,  penmanship,  arithmetic,  algebra,  geometry  and  book- 
keeping, and  a  complete  course  in  freehand  and  mechanical  drawing. 
Ample  testimony  is  borne  to  the  useful  service  which  this  institute  ren- 
ders the  working  classes.  It  deserves  the  friendly  support  of  all  manu- 
facturers, and  of  architects,  builders,  and  lithographers  who  seek 
skilled  draughtsmen. 

Asylums  and  Benevolent  Institutions. 

Chicago  has  never  been  niggardly  in  its  charities.  The  voluntary  sub- 
scriptions in  charity  and  charitable  institutions  in  this  city  annually  is 
estimated  at  over  three  million  dollars.  This  does  not,  however,  include 
hospitals  nor  reformatory  institutions. 

AMERICAN  EDUCATIONAL  AND  AID  ASSOCIATION. — This  is  better 
known  as  the  Children's  Home  Society  of  Chicago.  The  churches  in  the 
city  all  have  local  boards.  These  are  in  constant  communication, 
through  the  Superintendent  of  the  Association,  with  a  thousand  other 
local  boards  throughout  the  country.  A  needy  or  homeless  child  is 


90  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 

reported  at  once  to  the  executive,  and,  if  necessary,  is  received  in  the 
temporary  home  at  Englewood  or  Aurora,  and  remains  there  until  some 
home  needing  a  child  can  be  found,  to  which  the  waif  is  transferred. 
Voluntary  contributions  cover  the  whole  expense.  The  cost  per  child  of 
assisting  in  the  work  of  making  a  good  citizen  is  less  than  $50.  Several 
thousand  children  have  found  thus  good  homes  during  the  last  ten  years. 
They  are  now  averaging  a  child  per  day. 

Armour  Mission. 

• 

This  grand  charity  is  due  to  the  bequest  of  $100,000  from  the  late 
Joseph  F.  Armour.  It  was  established  in  November,  1886,  at  the  corner 
of  Butterfield  and  Thirty- third  Streets.  It  can  be  reached  by  State 
Street  cable  cars.  Philip  D.  Armour  was  designated  by  his  brother  as 
trustee  of  this  fund,  and  he  has  given  it  the  same  energetic  management 
which  has  so  prospered  his  own  business.  Whatever  was  needed  to 
make  it  a  success  in  every  respect  he  has  added  from  his  own 
resources.  The  present  institution  represents  $1,000,000.  The  Armour 
Mission  is  a  legal  corporation,  which  owns  not  only  the  Mission  itself, 
but  194  flats,  called  the  Armour  Mission  Flats.  The  income  from  the 
renting  is  devoted  to  the  maintenance  of  the  Mission. 

The  last  addition  to  this  institute  is  a  manual  training  school.  Neither 
race,  creed,  nor  any  other  distinction  is  a  bar  to  admission  into  the 
Mission.  It  is  a  part  of  Mr.  Armour's  creed  that  as  the  "  twig  is  trained 
so  is  the  tree  inclined."  He  expresses  the  utmost  satisfaction  at  the  out- 
come of  this  work,  so  peculiarly  his  own.  The  Mission  building  is  con- 
structed solidly  and  thoroughly  of  pressed  brick  and  brown  stone.  The 
woodwork  is  of  polished  oak.  A  creche,  or  day  nursery,  is  fitted  up  on 
the  first  floor,  which  contains  also  the  kitchen,  day  room,  kindergarten 
room,  reading  room,  dispensary  rooms,  of  which  there  are  four;  coal  and 
furnace  cellar,  bath  rooms  and  closets.  The  second  floor  has  the  main 
audience  room,  pastor's  study,  officers'  room,  library,  spacious  halls,  and 
two  large  side  rooms,  used  for  Sunday-school  purposes  or  for  small 
gatherings.  The  third  floor  is  taken  up  by  a  large,  handsomely-fitted 
lecture  room. 

The  main  audience  room,  with  its  adjuncts,  will  accommodate  about 
2,500  persons.  There  is  a  large  pipe-organ  here,  and  every  accessory 
from  stained-glass  windows  to  admirable,  acoustic  properties  combine  to 
make  this  the  most  beautiful  room  of  its  kind  in  the  city.  The  school 
has  enrolled  2,000  members,  with  an  average  attendance  of  over  1,400, 
an  increase  over  last  year  of  about  200.  Nothing  has  been  left  undone 
that  could  conduce  to  the  success  of  the  enterprise.  This  includes  the 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 


97 


publishing  of  a  monthly  paper,  called  the    Visitor,  used  for  gratuitous 
distribution. 

Even  Chicago's  busy  journalists  find  time  to  do  much  for  their  unfor- 


LA  SALLE  STREET,  LOOKING  NORTH,  FROM  THE  BOARD  OF  TRADE. 

tunate  fellows.     The  beneficent  work  under  the  charge  of  the  Chicago 
Daily  News  Fund  is  one  that  meets  with  much  deserved  favor  from  all 
7 


98  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 

classes  of  citizens — from  the  laboring  man  who  freely  gives  his  dime,  o 
the  millionaire  who  donates  his  hundreds.  In  1889  a  great  step  was 
taken  in  the  erection  of  a  permanent  sanitarium  for  the  special  benefit  of 
infants  and  young  children,  at  Lincoln  Park,  which  can  be  reached  by  the 
Clark  or  Wells  Street  cables.  The  design  of  the  building  was  intended 
for  solidity  and  endurance,  no  money  was  spent  on  ornamentation  or 
elaboration,  every  point  conduces  to  the  main  feature — use.  The  build- 
ing is  wholly  over  the  water,  standing  on  a  large  floor,  supported  by 
piling  ninety  feet  wide  and  extending  into  the  lake  200  feet.  The  great 
roof,  and  its  projecting  eaves  cover  almost  eighteen  thousand  square 
feet.  Over  all  this  space,  swing  infants'  hammocks,  they  being  the  chief 
beneficiaries  of  this  charity.  Broad  verandas  and  an  extensive  court 
opening  to  the  air  and  lake,  supply  accommodations  for  older  children  and 
the  attendants  or  mothers.  All  the  necessary  offices  are  at  the  shore  end. 

From  a  large  reception  room  the  guests  pass  to  the  office  of  the  physi- 
cian-in-charge,  for  examination,  and  such  medical  attention  as  may  be 
needed.  They  are  then  registered*  and  -the  matron  assigns  them  to 
trained  nurses  who  see  they  have  '"he  necessary  floor-space,  hammocks, 
chairs,  food,  etc.  The  room  of  the  matron  communicates  with  both  the 
office  and  the  surgeon's  quarters.  Critical  cases  that  sometimes  must 
be  kept  over  night,  find  in  the  matron's  room  a  suitable  dormitory.  This 
group  of  rooms  are  all  on  the  right  .of  the  entrance.  On  the  left  we  find 
the  kitchen,  pantries,  state  rooms,  and  north  of  these  are  bath  rooms  and 
closets.  The  connection  with  the  park  is  by  a  broad  bridge,  with  an 
easy  slope  for  the  baby  carriages.  Older  children  can  find  plenty  of 
amusement  in  the  park,  while  their  younger  brothers  and  sisters  are 
drinking  in  the  life-giving  breezes  of  Lake  Michigan. 

Sanitarium  for  Children. 

The  South  Side  Sanitarium  is,  at  the  present,  a  summer  resort  for  the 
babies,  located  at  the  foot  of  Twenty-second  Street.  A  huge  pavilion 
tent,  54  by  84  feet,  covers  the  hammocks  in  which  the  little  ones  swing, 
and  fill  themselves  with  the  bracing  oxygen  of  the  blue  expanse  of 
waters.  A  kindergarten  is  also  carried  on  to  relieve  the  mothers  from 
the  care  of  the  second  or  third  size  of  the  children  they  cannot  leave  at 
home  alone.  In  connection  with  these  expressions  of  thoughtful  ness  for 
the  poor  we  always  have  with  us,  there  is  still  another  branch  of  summer 
work  known  as  "  The  Country  Week,"  in  which  co-operative  human 
sympathy  is  made  available  to  permit  the  toiling  poor — the  children  first 
— to  enjoy  a  few  days  in  the  country  during  the  heated  term.  In  this  move- 
ment are  combined  the  contributions  of  citizens,  the  reductions  of  railway 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 


99 


fares,  and  the  generous  hospitality  of  the  "  country  cousins,"  in  Indiana, 
Illinois  and  Wisconsin.  This  charity  ^n'ves  over  a  thousand  persons,  a 
chance  yearly,  to  escape  the  horrors  of  the  "  heated  term  "  in  the  slums."" 
It  has  also  often  happened  that  children  going  into  the  country  thus, 
have  been  adopted  into  homes  of  plenty  and  health. 

Home  for  Incurables. 

Mrs.  Clarissa  C.  Peck  filled  her  life  full  of  noble  deeds,  and  in  her  will 
left  $500,000  for  the  founding  of  this  institution,  which  is  for  her  an 
enduring  monu- 
ment, living  in  the 
hearts  and  lives  of 
those  whom  it  bene- 
fits and  blesses.  A 
board  of  trustees 
from  some  of  the 
most  active  and 
honorable  business 
men  in  the  city  has 
carried  the  work 
on  to  its  present 
completeness.  For 
six  years,  in  which 
interest  accumula- 
ted, the  action  of 
the  trustees  was  de- 
layed. The  build- 
ings and  grounds 
cost  $107,000,  and 
there  was  1  e  f t 
$600,000,  the  in- 
come from  which 
is  more  than  suffi- 
cient to  meet  all 
runnin"-  expenses  LINCOLN'S  TOMB  AT  SPRINGFIELD. 

and  to  increase  the  building  fund,  to  be  ready  when  additional  facilities 
for  its  work  shall  be  needed.  The  full  capacity  is  125.  It  started  with 
thirty-three  inmates  from  a  similar  home  at  Lake  View,  which  was  then 
closed.  It  is  unsectarian  in  its  invitation  to  the  suffering,  receiving 
them  without  distinction  of  race,  creed,  or  color.  When  possible  the 
friends  are  asked  to  pay  a  monthly  stipend,  but  from  the  destitute 
nothing  is  asked. 

• 


100 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 


A  candidate  for  admission  must  be  incurably  afflicted  with  some  dis- 
ease of  which  the  trustees  are  final  referees.  The  ailments  most  frequent 
are  paralysis  and  rheumatism,  the  majority  of  the  former.  If  not  able  to 


MICHIGAN  AVENUE,  FROM  THE  LAKE  FRONT. 

walk,  invalid  chairs  are  provided,  by  which  they  can  change  place  and 
position  at  will,  in  their  own  rooms  or  through  the  long  corridors  and 
wide  verandas,  where  bright  glimpses  of  sunshine  upon  the  green  lawn 
anJ  r->y  parterres  of  bright  flowers  bring  momentary  surcease  of  pain  to 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF*  CHICAGO.  101 

Weakened  limbs  and  dimmed  eyes.     Visitors  are  always  welcome  at  the 
visiting  hours. 

Newsboys'  and  Bootblacks'  Home. 

At  the  present  this  is  located  at  1418  Wabash  Avenue,  and  can  be 
reached  by  the  Wabash  Avenue  cable.  This  charity  began  as  the  Chicago 
Industrial  School.  It  was  not  long,  however,  before  it  assumed  its  pres- 
ent purpose  and  name.  It  was  the  very  first  organized  effort  to  aid  the 
helpless  children  of  this  city.  It  is  intended  to  provide  a  comfortable 
Christian  home  for  newsboys,  bootblacks  and  other  homeless,  unprotected 
boys,  and,  if  possible,  to  find  them  homes  in  the  country,  or  employment 
in  the  city.  The  doors  of  the  home  are  never  closed  to  anyone  request- 
ing shelter  or  food,  but  to  cultivate  independence  and  foster  self-help 
fifteen  cents  is  the  price  of  breakfast,  supper  and  lodging.  This  the  boys 
call  paying  their  "  banner."  Provision  is  made  by  which  destitute  boys 
may  earn  immediate  living  expenses  by  selling  the  Newsboys'  Appeal^  a 
small  paper  published  in  the  interests  of  the  home,  or  else  they  are  loaned 
funds  to  buy  a  small  stock  of  daily  papers. 

The  Studebaker  Building. 

This  great  carriage  factory  stands  near  the  Auditorium  and  Art  Insti- 
tute on  Michigan  Avenue.  The  location  of  all  the  buildings  in  this 
immediate  vicinity  is  very  pleasant,  and  the  Studebaker  Building  occu- 
pies one  of  the  best.  The  dimensions  of  the  building  are  as  follows : 
It  has  a  frontage  of  107  feet,  a  depth  of  170  feet,  and  comprises  eight 
stories  besides  the  basement ;  the  height  is  135  feet,  indicating  plainly  by 
its  upward  growth  that  the  ground  in  this  vicinity  is  extremely  valuable, 
and  as  any  man  who  owns  a  lot  owns  above  it  clear  to  the  sky  he  can 
build  as  high  as  he  likes  provided  he  does  not  violate  any  of  the  city 
ordinances. 

The  material  of  this  immense  structure  is  red  syenite  granite  and  buff 
Bedford  stone.  Immense  spaces  are  required  for  the  business  of  the 
concern,  and  the  first  four  floors  are  used  as  sales-rooms.  These  have 
a  storage  capacity  for  2,000  vehicles.  The  remaining  floors  are  devoted 
to  the  manufacture  of  fine  carriages  of  every  style  and  grade.  The  first 
floor  is  nineteen  feet  in  the  clear,  and  the  remaining  floors  are  graduated 
until  the  top  floor  is  reached  where  the  height  is  twelve  feet.  Very  fine 
granite  columns  are  placed  at  the  main  entrances,  highly  polished,  and 
said  to  be  the  best  in  the  United  States.  These  bear  a  striking  resem- 
blance to  the  granite  columns  in  the  City  Hall  of  Philadelphia.  Granite 
columns  are  scattered  throughout  the  building,  giving  it  a  very  substan- 
tial and  attractive  appearance. 


102 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO, 


Skilled  mechanics  are  employed,  and  the  best  machinery  with  all  the 
newest  improvements  has  been  introduced,  so  that  it  may  be  said  this 
factory  is  one  of  the  best  equipped  in  the  world.  The  stock  not  only 
contains  vehicles  of  every  description,  but  also  comprises  a  vast  supply 


THE    PULLMAN    BUILDING. 


of  horse-furnishing  goods.  Special  attention  is  given  to  carriage 
repairs,  and  here  many  of  the  finest  equipages  in  Chicago  are  made,  and 
kept  in  the  very  best  order,  so  that  when  they  appear  upon  the  streets 
and  boulevards  the  display  is  dazzling.  Fine  horses  and  carriages 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO.  103 

abound  in  Chicago   and  the  drives  along  the  pleasant  lake  shore  are 
unsurpassed. 

The  Pullman  Building. 

This  stands  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Michigan  Avenue  and  Adams 
Street.  It  is  named  after  the  celebrated  inventor  and  manufacturer  of  the 
Pullman  Palace  Car,  who  is  also  the  owner  of  this  building.  It  is  a  solid 
ten-story  structure  of  granite  and  brick. 

Although  the  walls  are  smooth  and  the  ornamentation  is  centred  upon 
a  small  part,  yet  the  variously  shaped  windows,  open  spaces  and  large 
hallways,  divide  up  the  masses  so  as  to  produce  a  pleasing  effect. 
Without  having  a  pronounced  style  of  architecture  the  edifice  suggests 
some  of  the  old  buildings  of  the  North  German  cities. 

An    Imposing    Structure. 

The  basement  is  constructed  of  heavy  squares  of  gray  granite  with 
rough  surface.  All  the  remaining  part  of  the  building  is  of  brick  with 
sparse  terra-cotta  ornaments.  On  the  main  facade  on  Adams  Street  the 
granite  squares  in  the  basement  are  replaced  by  nine  beautiful  but  rather 
low  pillars  of  polished  granite  which  support  on  their  palmetto  capitals, 
eleven  round  arches,  thus  forming  pretty  arcades.  These  arcades  and 
the  whole  fagade  are  in  the  middle  interrupted  by  the  interior  court, 
which  here  opens  into  the  street.  The  two  halves  are,  however,  con- 
nected with  each  other  by  the  vestibule  which  is  entered  through  a 
massive  semi-circular  arch  reaching  from  one  wall  to  the  other.  Another 
very  effective  part  of  the  building  is  the  four  rows  of  loggias  placed  above 
one  another  and  showing  partly  simple,  partly  interlaced  arches.  They 
begin  on  the  fourth  and  fifth  stories  and  are  most  effective  on  the  fagade 
on  Michigan  Avenue  where  they  form  the  upper  half  of  the  central  section. 

The  lower  part  is  chiefly  occupied  by  the  entrance,  a  spacious  flat  arch 
on  massive  pillars  which  is,  at  the  level  of  the  first  story,  overtopped  by 
a  fine  semi-circular  arch.  On  the  same  side  are,  besides,  two  small 
balconies  on  the  ninth  story. 

The  large  arches  over  the  entrance,  which  make  an  imposing  impres- 
sion, with  its  heavy  crowning  richly  decorated  with  terra-cotta,  rest  on 
massive  pyramidic  granite  blocks.  The  ante-room  is  coated  half  way  up 
with  dull,  grayish  green  granite  slabs ;  the  remaining  part  is  decorated 
with  fine  terra-cotta  ornaments.  The  double  staircase  of  white  marble, 
showing  sculptures  at  various  places,  is  set  off  effectively  from  that  dark 
material.  The  interior  is  decorated  in  the  rich  and  solid  manner  charac- 
teristic of  this  class  of  new  buildings. 


104 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 


The  Temple. 

This  is  sometimes  called  the  Temperance  Temple,  and  was  built  by  the 
Woman's  Temperance  Building  Association.  It  affords  one  of  the  finest 
specimens  of  architecture  in  the  city. 


THE    TEMPLE. 

Its  depth  is  96  feet  and  it  has  a  frontage  of  190  feet  on  La  Salle  Street. 
The  building  cost  $1,100,000,  and  the  ground  is  said  to  be  equally  valu- 
able. The  structure  is  a  noble  monument  to  the  enterprise  of  the  Temper- 
ance Women  of  the  United  States,  who  showed  great  enthusiasm  in  its 
erection  and  in  procuring  the  amount  of  money  necessary  to  warrant 
them  in  going  ahead  with  their  undertaking. 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 


105 


The  first  two  stories  are  faced  with  red  granite,  while  the  stories  above 
these  have  a  facing  of  red  brick  to  correspond.  On  the  La  Salle  Street 
side  a  lofty  and  imposing  stone  arch  forms  the  main  entrance,  and  the 
four  corners  presented  to  La  Salle  Street  are  rounded  so  as  to  suggest 
turrets.  The  building  has  two  immense  wings,  which  are  united  by  a 
middle  section  called  the  vinculum.  There  are  large  interior  courts  for 
'.the  admission  of  light  and  air,  so  that  the  building  in  this  respect  is  simi- 
lar to  other  costly  structures  in  which  the  matter  of  light  and  ventilation 
is  carefully  studied.  The  roof  is  steep  and  broken  into  terraces,  forming 
three  stories  above  the  cornice.  The  style  of  architecture  is  French  Gothic. 

The  main  part  of  the  building  is  used  for  business  purposes.  On  the 
first  floor  is  a  large  hill  adorned  with  a  beautiful  fountain,  paintings  and 
statues.  There  are  large  and  convenient 
side  rooms  for  holding  meetings  and 
furnishing  accommodations  to  commit- 
tees. On  this  floor  there  are  impressive 
suggestions  of  the  great  temperance 
struggle  which  has  for  years  been  car- 
ried on.  The  building  is  a  central  point 
of  interest  to  visitors  not  only  from  the 
city  itself  but  from  all  parts  of  the 
country. 

Masonic  Temple. 

This  is  built  in  the  modern  style  of 
architecture  and  has  a  frontage  on  State 
Street  of  170  feet  and  1 14  feet  on  Ran- 
dolph Street.  It  is  one  of  the  tallest 
buildings  in  the  country,  being  twenty 
stories  high  and  soaring  to  the  height  of 
265  feet  above  the  ground.  For  the 
first  three  stories  Wisconsin  granite  is  used,  the  upper  stories  being 
built  of  a  gray  fire-brick.  Particular  attention  should  be  paid  by  the 
visitor  to  the  main  entrance  which  is  much  admired.  A  twelve-foot 
corridor  on  every  floor  runs  around  the  interior  of  the  building.  The 
first  sixteen  stories  are  used  for  stores  and  offices,  and  the  seventeenth 
and  eighteenth  stories  are  occupied  by  the  Masonic  Fraternity. 

The  apartments  of  the  Masonic  Order  are  very  costly  and  magnifi- 
cently furnished.  A  splendor  suggestive  of  oriental  royalty  is  exhibited  in 
the  furnishings.  There  are  spacious  parlors,  banqueting  halls  and  apart- 
ments for  the  Apollo  Commandery  to  which  the  founders  of  the  Temple 
belong.  There  are  sixteen  elevators  running  from  the  ground  to  the 


MASONIC    TEMPLE. 


106  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 

upper  stories,  thus  rendering  all  parts  of  the  immense  building  easy  of 
access.  There  is  an  inner  court  with  marble  slabs  of  various  colors, 
tasteful  mosaic  floors  throughout,  a  profusion  of  onyx  and  oakvvood, 
and  beautiful  bronze  work  on  the  staircases. 

Steam  heat  and  electric  lights  are  provided,  while  on  the  ground  floor 
there  is  a  large  cafe  and  all  accessories.  The  cost  of  the  building  and 
ground  is  said  to  have  been  $3,500,000,  affording  another  example  of  the 
liberal  expenditure  made  on  public  buildings  in  Chicago. 

Palmer  House. 

The  external  appearance  of  this  remarkable  building  is  such  that  it  is 
a  wonder  to  strangers  and  a  "joy  forever"  to  the  citizens.  Its  con- 
struction was  commenced  in  July,  1871.  The  plan  of  the  Palmer  House 
was  only  evolved  after  several  plans  had  been  submitted  to  the  proprie- 
tor, Mr.  Potter  Palmer,  by  the  best  Chicago  architects,  and  after  he  had, 
with  the  architect  selected  for  the  purpose,  traveled  over  Europe  and 
availed  himself  not  only  of  the  hints  of  the  architects  there  but  of  the 
ideas  to  be  gathered  from  the  finest  hotels  in  that  center  of  civilization 
and  luxury. 

The  best  hotels  in  Europe  at  that  time  were  the  Grand,  at  Paris,  and 
the  Beau  Rivage  d'Angleterre  at  Geneva.  Mr.  Palmer's  determination 
was  to  eclipse  them  all,  and  the  unanimous  opinion  of  travelers  is  that 
he  has  done  it.  The  substantial  points  characteristic  of  this  hotel  are 
the  massiveness  and  solidity  with  which  it  is  built.  The  edifice  contains 
17,000,000  bricks,  of  which  over  1,000,000  go  into  partition  walls.  There 
are  about  90,000  square  feet  of  marble  tiling  in  the  floors  of  the  build- 
ing, and  all  the  flooring  is  laid  upon  massive  beds  of  cement,  supported  by 
beams  brought  from  Belgium,  with  intervening  arches  of  corrugated  iron. 
The  precautions  against  fire  are,  in  all  respects,  very  complete.  There 
are  also  about  this  hotel  many  novel  and  exceptionally  thorough  arrange- 
ments for  admitting  light  liberally  everywhere,  avoiding  unpleasant 
kitchen  and  closet  odors,  etc.,  which  cannot  be  particularized  here.  The 
dimensions  of  the  building  are,  on  State  Street,  254  feet ;  on  Monroe 
Street,  250  feet,  and  on  Wabash  Avenue,  131  feet.  Total  area  covered, 
72,500  square  feet.  This  is  necessarily  divided  up  by  courts,  and  of 
these,  the  carriage  court,  entered  by  porles  cocheres  from  three  streets,  is 
90  by  1 20  feet  in  dimensions.  The  facings  of  the  several  fronts  are  of 
gray  sandstone,  with  the  first  story  and  entresol  of  massive  iron  castings 
which  alone  cost  $100,000.  Of  the  facing  stone,  160,000  cubic  feet  were 
used. 

The  peculiarity  which,  after  all,  most  impresses  the  visitor,  is  the  more 
than  palatial  richness  of  the  interior  finish.  The  immense  office  of  the 


107 


10$ 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 


hotel,  64  by  io6feet  and  24  feet  in  height,  is  wainscoted  everywhere  with 
Italian  marble,  studded  with  panels  of  remarkably  rich  rose  brocatello 
marble,  many  of  the  natural  mosaics  exhibited  in  these  panels  being  of 
rare  and  curious  beauty.  The  wainscoting  of  the  counter  is  the  same. 
The  next  feature  on  which  the  wealth  of  the  builder  has  been  most  con- 
spicuously lavished  is  the  grand  staircase  of  Carrara  marble,  springing 
from  the  ground  to  the  uppermost  floor,  and  constructed  upon  that  won- 
derful self-supporting  plan,  whereby  each  step  has  only  to  be  fixed  at  one 
end — the  whole  stretching  outward  from  the  wall,  with  apparently  no 
support  at  all.  The  principle  is  a  variation  of  the  keystone,  and  is  applied 
in  only  one  other  instance  in  America — Girard  College. 

Some    idea   of    the    startling 
weight  thus  suspended  in  mid  air 
may    be    conjectured   from   the 
fact   that   at   each     landing    (of 
4>  which  there  are  several  to  each 
story)  there  is  a   square    block 
weighing    5,200    pounds.     The 
intermediate  stairs  are  of  solid 
blocks,  and  weigh  perhaps  1,200 
pounds  each.     The  total  cost  of 
the  edifice  is  $2,000,000.     The 
style  of  the  furnishings  is  corre- 
spondingly elegant,  and  the  bill 
for  that  item  was  not  less  than 
$500,000.     All  the  front  rooms, 
up  to  the  fourth  or  fifth  floor,  are 
furnished    with    satin   or  velvet 
upholstery,  Wilton  or  moquette 
carpets,      and     have     elegantly 
clocks    of  bronze,   gilt   or    ormolu, 
dining   room  and   other   sallcs 
contiguously   to   each  other, 
The  principal  dining  room, 


GREAT    NORTHERN    HOTEL. 


carved    mantels,    on    which  stand 

with   other  ornaments  to  match.     The 

a  manger,  five   in    number,   are  located 

and  have  a  total  area  of  12,033  square  feet. 

64  by  76  feet  in  size,  is  arranged  so  as  to  suggest  an  open  Italian  court, 

the  sweep  of  the  eye  being  relieved  by  massive  fluted  columns  extending 

around  the  room  as  if  supporting  piazzas. 

There  are  708  rooms  in  the  Palmer  House,  and  the  electric  apparatus 
by  which  the  occupants  of  each  communicate  with  the  office,  includes 
nearly  100  miles  of  wire.  From  1,000  to  2,400  guests  are  usually  accom- 
modated in  this,  one  of  the  largest  and  costliest  hotels  in  the  world.  The 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO, 


109 


new  Palmer  House  was  opened  in  the  year  1873  by  Mr.  Potter  Palmer, 
who  was  then,  and  is  now,  the  sole  proprietor  and  manager.  The  traveler 
can  have  his  choice  of  plans  while  stopping  at  the  Palmer — either  the 
American  or  European.  In  connection  with  the  Palmer  House  are  the 
famous  bath  house  and  barber  shop,  said  to  surpass  anything  of  the  kind  in 
the  United  States,  if  not  in  the  world.  They  merit  a  visit  of  inspection  by 
strangers  who  desire  to  see  the  highest  style  of  art  bestowed  on  such 

places  of  convenience. 

The  Leland  Hotel. 

This  building  has  six  stories,  besides  the  basement  and  contains  216 
rooms.  The  reputation  of  the  house  is  such  that  it  enjoys  an  extensive 
patronage.  The  situation  is  all  that  could  be  desired.  Fronting  on 


LELAND    HOTEL,    CHICAGO. 

Michigan  Boulevard,  the  fashionable  drive  of  the  city,  within  full  view 
of  the  lake  and  Lake  Park,  it  could  hardly  be  better  located.  It  is  under 
excellent  management ;  the  interior  is  more  than  comfortable,  many  of 
the  apartments  being  fitted  up  luxuriously,  and  the  popularity  of  the 
place  is  fully  established.  The  guests  receive  polite  attention,  are  well 
cared  for  and  are  very  apt  to  return  when  business  or  pleasure  calls  them 
to  the  city. 

South  Park  Avenue  M.  E.  Church. 

This  is  a  beautiful  structure,  built  of  square  stone.  It  has  a  fine  spire, 
and  the  architecture  shows  a  free  use  of  Norman  and  Romanesque 
forms.  The  entrance,  a  low  semi-circular  arch,  is  on  the  main  facade 


110 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 


on  South  Park  Avenue.  Another  entrance  is  on  Thirty-third  Street,  in 
an  additional  structure  placed  before  the  tower  and  crowned  with  a  bal- 
cony. The  ten  large  semi-circular  windows  in  the  side  walls  are  orna- 
mented with  stained  glass  and  separated  by  strong  buttresses  reaching  to 
the  roof.  The  tower  on  the  northeast  corner,  with  its  unique  finial, 


SOUTH    PARK    AVENUE    M.    E.    CHURCH. 

reminds  one  of  the  barbicans  of  the  mediaeval  castles  and  boroughs.  Ris- 
ing from  the  angles  at  the  top  are  four  round  turrets  which  are  at  their 
base  encircled  by  a  common  wall.  Each  of  the  walls  between  has  two  lower 
windows  in  front  of  which  is  a  balustrade  of  open  work  masonry.  The 
pinnacle  of  the  tower  is  a  low  quadrangular  pyramid  with  rounded  corners. 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AMU  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 


Ill 


The  interior  has  1,500  seats  rising  as  in  an  amphitheatre,  and  a  beauti- 
ful gallery.     The  wainscoting  of  the  ceiling  and  the  woodwork  of  the 


SOUTH  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH,  HYDE  PARK. 

seats,  etc.,  is  of  oak  and  California  cedar.    The  walls  show  simple  decora- 
tions on  a  ground  of  light  terra-cotta,  producing  an  excellent  effect. 


312 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 


The  South  Congregational  Church  stands  in  an  excellent  location  and 
is  one  of  the  finest  church  edifices  in  Chicago.  A  considerable 
part  of  its  beauty  is  due  to  its  architecture,  which  is  Romanesque. 
Another  part  of  its  attractive  appearance  is  due  to  the  material  with 
which  it  is  made  ;  this  is  gray,  prairie  stone  with  a  rough  surface.  It  is 
well  situated  in  one  of  the  best  portions  of  the  city.  The  shape  of  the 
ground  on  which  it  stands  being  irregular,  the  plan  of  the  building  is  also 
irregular,  so  that  the  main  audience  room  is  a  rectangle  with  a  right- 
angle  vestibule  attached  to  it. 

The  front  facing  the  boulevard  has  a  tower  at  each  corner,  between 
which  is  a  semi-circular  arched  entrance  with  heavy  canopy.  Above  this 
a  fine  Romanesque  window  adds  to  the  beauty  of  the  structure.  The 
most  impressive  part  of  the  building  is  the  tower  in  the  southeast 
corner.  The  first  oart  of  it  is  in  the  shape  of  a  drum  and  contains  five 


THE    ART    INSTITUTE    OF    CHICAGO. 

semi-circular  arched  windows.  Above  this,  in  their  proper  places,  are 
massive  buttresses  which  enlarge  toward  their  bases  and  extend  into 
free  round  columns  on  which  are  placed  four  wide  arches,  forming  the 
spacious  belfry.  This  has  a  balustrade  of  stone  in  open-work.  The 
pinnacle  is  a  slated  pyramid  and  from  the  corners  of  the  base  rise  four 
small  cones.  The  northern  tower  is  simpler  in  style  and  lower.  It  is 
all  the  way  cylindrical  and  ends  in  a  cone.  The  interior  of  the  church 
is  simple,  and  at  the  same  time  elegant  and  imposing.  The  wood_ 
carving  of  the  pews,  doors  and  rafters  is  a  special  feature.  The  interior 
is  beautifully  ornamented  with  stained  glass  windows  in  the  transept. 

The  Art  Institute. 

This  building  has  sprung  up  from  the   ruins  of  the  Old  Exposition 
Building,  which,  for  so  many  years,  was  a  landmark  in  the  City  of  Chicago. 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO.  113 

It  is  delightfully  located,  having  an  uninterrupted  view  of  the 
lake  on  the  east  and  facing  Michigan  Avenue  on  the  west.  It  has  a 
frontage  of  320  feet,  and  the  main  body  measures  175  feet,  which,  with 
projections,  approximates  208  feet. 

The  main  entrance  faces  Adams  Street,  and  is  built  in  white  marble. 
The  grand  staircase,  together  with  the  central  wing,  is  the  most  striking 
feature,  being  in  a  case  of  about  50  feet  square  and  of  most  beautiful 
workmanship.  The  vestibule  is  in  marble  and  mosaic,  and  the  entrance 
hall  in  marble  with  mosaic  floors  and  ceiling.  Arched  openings  connect 
this  with  the  galleries  on  either  side.  There  are  two  galleries,  the  first 
devoted  to  plaster  casts,  sculpture,  busts  and  models,  and  the  second  to 
pictures.  The  main  galleries  are  27  feet  wide,  the  second  12  feet  wide 
The  lecture  room  is  one  side  of  the  grand  staircase  and  seats  i.ooo  per- 
sons ;  the  other  side  is  the  library. 

It  is  fire-proof  of  course,  arrangements  being  made  to  cover  the  fire- 
proof partitions  with  planks  of  suitable  thickness,  so  that  pictures  can  be 
hung  wherever  taste  and  good  judgment  may  dictate.  It  is  classic  in 
design  and,  exclusive  ofr  land,  cost  between  $600,000  and. $800,000. 

Grand  Central  Depot. 

The  site  of  this  building  is  Fifth  Avenue  and  Harrison  Street.  The 
station  is  used  by  the  Northern  Pacific  Depot,  Chicago  and  Great  West- 
ern, Baltimore  and  Ohio  and  Wisconsin  Central.  It  is  the  largest  and 
finest  station  in  Chicago,  and  one  of  the  largest  in  the  country.  At  all 
hours  of  the  day  and  night  it  is  thronged  with  passengers  and  the  con- 
venience of  having  a  central  depot  for  a  number  of  roads  is  indicated  by 
the  immense  traffic. 

The  exterior  of  the  station  is  plain  and  unpretentious.  It  is  the  prop- 
erty of  the  Chicago  and  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  which  is  the  only 
road  having  a  through  track  of  its  own  from  Chicago  to  the  Pacific 
Coast.  The  building  was  begun  in  October,  1888,  and  was  opened  for 
business  December  8th,  1890.  It  has  a  frontage  of  680  feet  on  Fifth 
Avenue  and  226  feet  on  Harrison  Street.  It  covers  three  and  a  half 
acres  of  ground,  yet  is  none  too  spacious  for  the  amount  of  business 
done.  Part  of  the  building  is  seven  stories  high  and  the  remaining  part 
is  four  stories.  There  is  a  tower  212  feet  high  containing  a  clock,  and  a 
bell  which  is  larger  than  any  other  in  the  United  States  with  one  excep- 
tion. The  weight  of  its  hammer  is  706  pounds.  The  dial  of  the  tower 
clock  is  thirteen  and  one-half  feet  in  diameter. 

The  main  waiting  room  is  207  feet  long  by  71  wide,  and  the  ceiling  is 
supported  by  two  rows  of  massive  marble  columns.  The  floors  and 


114 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 


some  parts  of  the  facings  are  also  of  marble.  The  station  is  provided 
with  ladies'  parlors,  dining-rooms,  smoking  room,  reading  room,  barber 
shop,  etc.  Every  possible  arrangement  is  made  for  the  comfort  of  trav- 
elers. The  basement  of  the  tower,  which  has  entrances  from  both  streets, 
serves  as  a  vestibule  for  the  waiting  room. 

The  train-shed  is  560  feet  long.  It  is  vaulted  by  one  wide  arch,  and 
being  mainly  covered  with  glass  it  is  well  lighted  and  pleasant.  Only 
one  train-shed  in  the  country  is  larger,  and  that  is  the  one  connected 
with  the  Grand  Central  Depot  in  New  York.  The  particular  feature  of 


GRAND    CENTRAL    DEPOT. 

the  station  is  the  electric  plant  under  the  platform  which  furnishes  elec- 
tricity for  regulating  the  switches,  and  closing  the  bars  at  a  distance. 
Each  of  the  roads  using  the  station  has  its  separate  track,  offices,  etc., 
thus  preventing  all  confusion  in  the  arrival  or  departure  of  the  trains. 
The  cost  of  the  depot  was  about  $1,000,000. 

Lake  Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  Depot. 

The  history  of  this  magnificent  trunk  line  is  practically  the  history  of 
railroad  construction  in  the  United  States.  Its  inception  dates  back  to 
1833,  the  commencement  of  the  railroad  building  period  in  this  country, 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 


115 


and  every  rail  that  has  been  added  in  the  extension  of  the  original  road 
since  that  time  has  its  own  story  to  tell  of  the  westward  and  onward  pro- 
gress of  civilization,  the  settlement  of  the  waste  places,  the  birth  and 
growth  of  villages  and  towns,  the  peopling  of  great  cities  and  the  pros- 
perity of  half  a  continent  The  Lake  Shore  and  Michigan  Southern 
railway  may  well  be  called  the  great  east  and  west  artery  of  the  nation, 
as  it  has  done  more  toward  infusing  the  blood  of  life  into  the  immense 
stretch  of  territory  that  is  washed  by  the  great  inland  seas  than  any 
other  force  employed  by  man  during  the  past  century.  The  Lake  Shore 
and  Michigan  Southern  Railroad  Company,  as  it  exists  to-day,  was 


LAKE   SHORE   AND    MICHIGAN    SOUTHERN    DEPOT. 

organized  in  1869.  The  road  is  part  of,  and  one  of  the  most  important 
links  in,  the  famous  "  Vanderbilt  system." 

The  site  of  the  building  is  between  Van  Buren,  Harrison,  Sherman 
Streets  and  Pacific  Avenue.  The  material  is  yellow  stone  with  a  rough 
surface  and  the  front,  facing  Van  Buren  Street,  is  flanked  by  two  seven- 
story  towers.  The  structure  is  complete  in  all  conveniences  for  the 
travelling  public. 

Chicago  is  well  supplied  with  places  of  entertainment.  These  include 
concert  halls,  theatres  and  cycloramas.  Some  years  ago  an  attempt  was 
made  to  locate  a  permanent  dramatic  company  in  the  city.  Judged  by 


116 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  CHICAGO. 


the  receipts  at  the  box  office  the  effort  did  not  meet  with  any  great 
encouragement.  Money  rules  the  world,  and  as  no  individual  or  dram- 
atic association  in  Chicago  felt  under  obligation  to  provide  entertain- 
ments that  did  not  pay  for  themselves  the  attempt  was  given  up. 

Still  Chicago  has  always  had  its  first-class  theatres,  and  the  great  actors 
and  actresses  of  the  world  have  achieved  here  some  of  their  most  signal 
triumphs.  Of  late  years  travelling  plays  have  taken  the  place  of  the 

old  stock  companies, 
an  arrangement  which 
undoubtedly  fur- 
nishes a  better  class  of 
entertainments  than 
was  formerly  offered 
to  the  public. 

It  is  interesting  to 
note  as  matter  of  his- 
tory that  the  first  per- 
formance in  Chicago 
at  which  an  admit- 
tance fee  was  charged 
was  given  on  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1834,  by  a 
certain  Bowers,  who 
fed  upon  fire,  drank 
soup  of  melted  lead, 
which  he  ladled  into 
his  mouth  with  a  red- 
hot  spoon,  and  did 
various  other  wonder- 
ful things  that  must 
have  appeared  to  his 
audience  very  startling  in  their  character,  for  the  reason  that  he  did  not 
take  the  trouble  to  explain  his  tricks  and  tell  how  they  were  done.  ''  To 
such  introduction,  there  could  be  but  one  sequence ;  having  once  tasted 
the  mysterious  and  thrilling  pleasures  of  fire-eating,  ventriloquism  and 
the  itinerant  circus,  with  speckled  clown  and  sawdust  arena  in  all  their 
fabled  glory — how  could  search  for  pleasure  stop  short  of  the  real  dram- 
atic stage  itself?" 

The  names  of  the  standard  theatres  are  well  known,  and  it  is  only 
necessary  here  to  mention  the  new  Schiller  Theatre,  which  has  all  mod- 
ern improvements  and  is  a  very  attractive  place  of  amusement. 


CHAPTER  V. 
Parks,  Boulevards  and  Other  Points  of  Interest. 


M 


ORE  than  twenty  years  ago  a  grand  system  of  parks  was  laid 
out  which  has  given  to  Chicago  the  name  of  the  "  Garden 
City."  It  is  well  that  this  system  was  planned  long  ago,  for 
if  it  had  been  left  until  the  present  time  the  great  value  of 
land  would  have  persuaded  a  large  number  of  citizens  that  Chicago  could 
do  without  parks,  and  that,  instead  of  being  necessaries,  they  would  be 
superfluous  luxuries. 

Although  the  air  of  Chicago  is  fresh  from  the  great  lake  on  the 
one  side  and  the  open  prairies  on  the  other,  yet  every  large  city 
needs  its  patches  of  green,  affording  as  it  were  a  taste  of  the 
country  and  furnishing  breathing  places  for  all  classes  of  people. 
London  calls  her  parks  the  lungs  of  the  city.  Chicago  is  well 
supplied  with  lungs,  and  her  system  of  parks  when  completed  will 
afford  some  of  the  finest  drives  and  boulevards  in  the  world.  At  the 
present  time  the  parks  include  1,879  acres  °f  land,  and  the  connecting 
boulevards  when  finished  will  have  a  total  length  of  twenty  miles.  This 
does  not  include  the  considerable  number  of  small  parks  and  squares  in 
various  parts  of  the  city  which  are  patronized  extensively  by  the  resi- 
dents of  the  neighborhoods  in  which  they  are  located. 

Commissioners  appointed  by  the  State  have  charge  of  the  park 
system,  the  funds  needed  by  them  being  furnished  principally  by  direct 
tax  upon  the  city.  Thus,  Lincoln  Park  and  the  West  Shore  drive  are 
under  control  of  a  separate  commission,  as  are  other  parks  situated  on  the 
west  and  south  sides  respectively.  Of  course,  a  constant  growth  and 
improvement  are  observed  in  these  inviting  patches  of  country  planted 
in  the  heart  of  the  great  city.  They  appear  more  attractive  from  year  to 
year.  Taste  is  displayed  in  the  arrangement  of  walks,  flower-beds  and 
fountains,  while  all  the  choice  varieties  of  trees,  plants  and  flowering 
shrubs  which  will  grow  in  this  climate  are  cultivated. 

Lincoln  Park. 

The  visitor  will  guess  at  once  how  this  park  obtained  its  name, 
although  it  is  only  one  of  many  objects  of  interest  which  Chicago  has 
to  remind  one  of  the  martyred  president.  The  southern  portion  of  the 

present  park  was  formerly  occupied  by  the  old  Chicago  Cemetery ;  this 

117 


118        fARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST. 


Was  at  length  condemned  on  account  of  being  so  near  the  thickly  set- 
tled portion  of  the  city  and  the  bodies  were  removed.  In  1869,  a  com- 
mission was  appointed  to  turn  this  ground  into  a  park  and  make 
improvements  by  additional  territory.  The  space  occupied  is  about  250 
acres,  the  park  being  about  half  a  mile  wide  by  one  and  one-half  miles 
long.  The  great  charm  of  it  is  that  it  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  lake. 
Lincoln  Park  is  the  most  complete  of  the  entire  system.  Twenty 
acres  of  lakes  within  the  park  afford  fine  landscape  views  ;  beautiful 
lawns  stretch  away  in  all  directions  ;  flower  beds,  enriched  with  all  the 
colors  of  the  rainbow,  charm  the  eye ;  bronze  statues  of  celebrities 
occupy  well  chosen  sites ;  winding  drives  conduct  the  visitor  from  point 

to  point,  showing  him  all  the  attrac- 
tions of  noble  trees,  verdant  .shrub- 
bery, walks  and  avenues,  which  com- 
bined may  be  said  to  form  a 
panorama  of  the  beauties  of  nature 
made  effective  by  the  art  of  the  land- 
scape gardener. 

This  popular  place  of  resort  is  also 
furnished  with  a  refreshment  pavilion 
which  stands  near  the  shore  of  the 
largest  lake,  where  a  supply  of  boats 
is  always  provided.  There  is  also  an 
interesting  zoological  collection,  very 
attractive  to  the  little  people  who 
never  tire  of  watching  the  'antics 
of  the  various  animals.  In  the 
summer  season  entertainments  are 
furnished  by  donations  from  the  liberal  citizens  residing  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. Among  the  bronze  statues  is  one  of  Schiller,  erected  by  the  Ger- 
man citizens  in  1886  on  the  anniversary  of  the  great  poet's  death.  It 
stands  at  the  south  end  of  the  large  flower  beds.  The  bronze  Indian 
group  of  life  size  erected  on  a  massive  granite  pedestal  is  well  worth 
inspecting.  A  statue  of  Lincoln  above  life  size  stands  near  the  entrance 
at  Clark  Street  and  North  Avenue.  Passing  along  the  shore  of  the  lake 
the  visitor  sees  the  Grant  Monument,  an  imposing  granite  structure  from 
the  base  of  which  may  be  obtained  a  fine  view  of  the  lake.  This  is  an 
equestrian  monument  to  General  Grant  and  was  erected  by  the  city  in 
1891.  These  statues,  together  with  the  residence  of  the  late  General 
John  A.  Logan,  are  points  of  great  interest  to  strangers  and  are  visited 
by  throngs  of  sight-seers. 


HON.  JOHN    A.  LOGAN. 


PARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  fOINTS  OF  INTEREST.      119 

Perhaps  the  chief  attraction  is  the  electric  fountain,  better  called  the 
"  Luminous  Fountain,"  which,  when  it  is  in  operation,  is  a  miracle  of 
light  and  beauty.  The  Paris  Exhibition  of  1889  had  a  fountain  of  this 
description,  which  was  one  of  the  great  attractions.  The  Visitor  perceives 
an  immense  basin  at  Lincoln  Park  with  pipes  in  the  centre.  The"  bronze 
plate  on  one  side  shows  the  name  of  the  donator — Charles  E.  Yerkds.  We' 
will  not  attempt  to  explain  here  the  arrangement  of  the  pipes  and  rnachiri* 
cry  by  which  the  effect  is  produced.  The  illuminating  apparatus  Is  Irigeri^ 
iously  constructed  and  has  been  made  to  work  successfully.  A  room" 
forty-five  feet  square  is  under  the  basin,  and  here  the  electric  light  is 
produced. 


THE    LATE   JOHN    A.    LOGAN'S    RESIDENCE    IN    CHICAGO. 

Five  colors — red,  blue,  purple,  green  and  yellow — are  used  either 
separately  or  together,  producing  by  their  skillful  combinations  a  great 
variety  of  wonderful  effects.  When  the  fountain  plays  a  powerful  central 
jet  often  rises  to  a  height  of  eighty  feet.  A  large  number  of  lofty  jets, 
rising  half  that  distance,  surround  it,  and  these  at  the  top  are  combined 
in  a  cloud  of  vapors  which  exhibit  all  the  colors  of  the  rainbow.  Some- 
times the  smaller  jets  have  colors  different  from  that  of  the  central  jet, 
and  in  this  case  the  sight  is  especially  fine.  Thus  the  central  jet  may 
appear  flaming  red,  shooting  up  like  a  column  of  liquid  fire,  while  the 


120 


PARKS.  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST.       121 

other  jets  have  the  various  colors  of  the  prism,  forming  a  combination  of 
tints  and  sparkling  jets  of  water  that  is  very  striking.  Then  the  colors 
are  made  to  change;  the  outside  jets  are  silvery,  resembling  a  fountain 
of  diamonds,  while  the  central  jet  is  turned  to  magnificent  gold.  The 
combinations  of  light,  color  and  beauty  seem  to  be  endless,  and  the  eye 
is  constantly  entranced  with  the  variations.  The  visitor  can  stand  for 
hours  before  this  superb  spectacle,  which  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  on 
which  the  eye  ever  gazed. 

Popular  Sports. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  improvements  of  late  years  and  a  real 
ornament  to  the  city  is  the  Lincoln  Park  sea-wall.  Heavy  waves  having 
several  years  ago  damaged  the  strand  of  the  park  and  the  carriage  road 
running  alongside  it  and  flooded  parts  of  the  park,  the  repetition  of  such 
an  occurrence  was  prevented  by  constructing  a  quay. 

Next  to  this  is  a  splendid  promenade  sixteen  feet  wide,  covered  with 
large  slabs  of  cement  and  bordered  by  a  few  stone  steps  twelve  feet  above 
the  surface  of  the  water.  The  remaining  part  of  the  quay  is  occupied  by 
the  macadamized  carriage  road,  forty- five  feet  wide,  and  bordered  by 
flower-beds  toward  the  inland  water.  This  sheet  of  water,  about  175  feet 
wide,  and  extending  between  the  park  shore  and  the  quay,  is  intended 
to  serve  for  rowing  as  well  as  for  steamboat  landing,  for  which  latter  pur- 
pose there  is,  opposite  to  the  Yerkes  fountain,  an  opening  through  the 
quay  to  Lake  Michigan. 

Chicago  oarsmen  hold  their  annual  regattas  here,  and  the  occasion  is 
one  of  the  noted  events  of  the  year.  Enthusiastic  adherents  of  the  naval 
clubs,  admiring  personal  friends,  fond  relatives  and  anxious  sweethearts 
encourage  the  sparsely  clad  oarsmen  with  their  presence,  and  the  contests 
are  generally  close  and  very  exciting. 

In  the  winter  season  when  the  lakes  of  Lincoln  Park  are  frozen  over 
they  attract  crowds  of  skaters  and  present  a  very  animated  scene.  It 
frequently  happens  that  the  ice  is  in  excellent  condition,  and  if  this 
should  happen  on  a  Saturday  when  the  public  schools  are  not  in  session, 
or  on  a  holiday  when  the  factories  and  places  of  business  are  closed, 
thousands  of  persons  visit  the  lakes  to  take  part  in  the  sport.  The  skat- 
ing facilities  are  ample  in  the  vicinity  of  Chicago  and  afford  one  of  the 
most  popular  out-door  amusements. 

Humboldt  Park. 

This  is  the  most  northerly  park  in  the  system  and  has  a  greater  eleva- 
tion than  any  of  the  others.  It  comprises  about  two  hundred  acres  of 
open  prairie  land.  It  has  many  natural  advantages,  being  well  wooded 


122 


PARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST.       123 

and  is  furnished  with  lawns,  avenues,  walks  and  drives,  which  render  the 
place  very  attractive.  There  is  a  large  lake  front  that  affords  ample 
facilities  for  rowing,  and  this  park  is  a  popular  resort  for  oarsmen.  One 
of  the  features  of  the  place  is  a  celebrated  artesian  well  1,155  feet  in 
depth,  from  which  is  derived  an  excellent  grade  of  mineral  water  abound- 
ing in  sulphates,  chlorides  and  carbonates. 


GRANT    MONUMENT    IN    LINCOLN    PARK. 

Another  feature  is  the  conservatory.  Having  a  warm  and  cold  side 
a  great  variety  of  plants  can  be  cultivated,  including  both  the 
hardy  growths  and  tropical  flowers.  There  is  also  a  cupola  for  palms 
and  tropical  plants.  The  visitor  is  struck  with  the  beauty  of  the  lawns 
which  are  fine  specimens  of  landscape  gardening.  The  endeavor  to 


124       PARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST. 


make  the  park  appear  as  if  all  its  points  of  interest  were  natural  and  not 
artificial  has  been  quite  successful,  and  the  visitor  is  very  liable  while 
walking  or  riding  through  it  to  be  under  the  illusion  that  nature  has 
done  the  work  which  has  been  really  performed  by  man.  The  pavilion 
is  the  chief  point  of  attraction  and  is  a  place  of  constant  resort. 

What  are  known  as  the  South  Parks  comprise  Washington  and  Jack- 
son and  Midway  Plaisance,  which  connects  the  two  former.  Already 
these  parks  have  become  popular,  and  are  frequented  by  multitudes,  who 
are  eager  to  get  a  glimpse  of  something  in  the  town,  which  has  the  fresh 

ness  and  beauty  of 
the  country.  The 
liberal  spirit  of  the 
city  was  shown  in  pur- 
chasing the  grounds 
for  these  parks  at  an 
expense  of  $3,208,000 
and  the  improvements 
swelled  this  to  a 
much  larger  sum. 
Washington  Park  lies 
nearly  six  miles  south 
and  east  from  the 
City  Hall,  and  is 
bounded  by  Fifty-first 
Street,  Kankakee 
Avenue,  Sixtieth  St. 
and  Cottage  Grove 
Avenue,  a  space  of 
371  acres,  somewhat 
over  a  mile  west  from 
the  lake.  The  extent 
of  the  grounds  has 
given  an  opportunity  for  breadth  of  treatment  which  the  landscape 
artists  have  not  neglected. 

Among  the  most  attractive  features  are  the  "  Meadow,"  a  famous 
stretch  of  sward,  covering  100  acres;  the  "  Mere,"  a  meandering  sheet 
of  picturesquely  distributed  water,  thirteen  acres  in  extent;  the  conserva- 
tory, a  handsome  building  40  by  120  feet,  comprising  nine  propagating 
houses  and  a  cactus  house,  and  containing  an  interesting  collection  of 
tropical  plants  the  artesian  well,  1,643  feet  deep,  which  furnishes  a 
mineral  water ;  and  the  stable,  built  of  stone,  in  the  shape  of  a  Greek 


SKATING    IN    LINCOLN    PARK. 


125 


126       PARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST. 

cross,  to  accommodate  over  100  horses,  the  stalls  being  arranged  circu- 
larly about  a  central  space,  into  which  the  phaetons  with  their  loads  are 
driven  when  horses  are  to  be  changed.  This  stable  covers  a  space  of 
325  by  200  feet,  measured  through  its  greatest  diameters,  and  shelters 
the  130  fine  Norman  blooded  horses  owned  by  the  Commission.  Flow- 
ers are  tastefully  distributed  at  the  most  effective  points  throughout  the 
park,  170,000  plants  being  propagated  and  set  out  annually.  Boats  may 
be  hired  for  rowing  on  the  Mere,  and  lunches  maybe  had  at  the  "  Retreat," 
in  which  is  also  the  superintendent's  office.  Finally  there  is  a  zoological 
collection  well  worth  seeing,  and  afternoon  concerts  are  usually  given  at 
frequent  intervals  through  the  summer  months  during  the  season,  from 
about  June  I  to  the  middle  of  October,  or  later. 

Phaetons  leave  the  cottage,  corner  of  Drexel  and  Oakwood  Boule- 
vards, every  twenty  minutes,  from  9  A.  M.  to  7  P.  M.,  except  on  Sun- 
days, when  the  service  is  increased  to  every  ten  minutes,  from  I  to  8 
P.  M.  Fare  for  the  round  trip  (about  seven  miles)  is  30  cents  ;  children 
under  ten  years  of  age,  1 5  cents. 

One  objective  point  is  the  park  Retreat ;  but  the  round  trip  is  made 
through  Drexel,  Grand  and  Oakwood  Boulevards  and  Washington  Park. 
The  park  Retreat,  like  the  phaeton  service,  is  under  the  immediate  charge 
of  the  Park  Commissioners.  It  is  conducted  as  a  cafe,  not  as  a  restaur- 
ant, and  the  prices  are  the  same  as  in  the  city. 

The  race  track  of  Washington  Park  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  finest 
in  the  world,  and  in  all  probability  few  are  better  patronized. 

Grand  Boulevard. 

Few  modern  cities  are  so  favored  as  Chicago  in  spacious  streets  and 
fine  driveways.  A  commendable  foresight,  which  took  into  account  the 
rapid  growth  of  the  city  and  the  splendid  proportions  it  was  destined  to 
assume,  provided  for  boulevards  which  are  now  among  the  chief 
attractions.  Paris  is  not  more  famous  for  its  Triumphal  Arch,  its  Louvre 
and  magnificent  Churches  than  it  is  for  its  avenues.  Chicago  has  been 
learning  a  lesson  from  the  famous  cities  of  the  Old  World. 

The  Grand  Boulevard  is  the  western  entrance  to  Washington  Park. 
It  is  200  feet  wide,  and  is  bordered  by  a  double  colonnade  of  elms  and 
strips  of  green  turf,  rendering  it  a  fine  avenue  for  promenaders  which 
they  fully  appreciate,  as  is  shown  by  the  thousands  who  on  a  pleasant 
day  may  be  seen  along  the  thoroughfare.  There  is  an  excellent  roadbed 
for  driving  and  on  the  western  side  a  strip  is  reserved  for  equestrians. 
One  part  is,  by  common  consent,  used  for  speeding  fast  horses.  It  is 
one  of  the  most  fashionable  drives  in  the  city,  and  the  expectations  of 


128       PARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST. 

the  Commissioner  have  been  much  more  than  realized  by  the  eagerness 
with  which  the  public  have  sought  the  Grand  Boulevard  as  a  place  for 
recreation.  It  is  crowded  sometimes  for  a  space  of  two  miles  with 
carriages  three  abreast.  Beautiful  residences,  churches  and  other  public 
buildings  stand  on  each  side. 

Drexel  Boulevard. 

Like  the  boulevard  already  described  the  Drexel  is  200  feet  wide, 
divided  as  follows  :  Fifteen  feet  of  side-walk,  forty  feet  of  roadway  at 
the  side  of  the  planting  place  in  the  centi;e,which  is  ninety  feet  wide.  It  is 
modelled  after  one  of  the  most  celebrated  avenues  in  Paris.  Only  plea- 
sure carriages  are  admitted,  heavy  vehicles  of  every  description  being 
excluded. 

The  first  steps  for  constructing  this  boulevard  were  taken  in  1870; 
purchases  were  made  and  the  work  of  construction  was  soon  after  com- 
menced. Much  taste  is  shown  in  laying  out  flower  gardens  and  walks. 
There  is  an  absence  of  monotony,  and  the  care  bestowed  upon  the 
planting  surface  which  is  considerably  above  the  road  grade,  is  seen  in 
the  great  variety  of  beautiful  effects.  There  are  rustic  seats  and  bowers, 
fountains  and  circular  spaces.  Hard  blue  clay  forms  the  material  for 
the  walks,  and  the  drives  are  gravel  on  a  graded  surface.  In  short,  what- 
ever will  add  to  the  beauty  of  the  avenue  has  been  carefully  thought  of, 
and  the  result  is  one  of  the  most  charming  avenues  in  the  country.  One 
of  the  interesting  features  is  the  line  of  stately  elms  which  the  owners  of 
the  property  on  each  side  of  the  street  have  planted  four  feet  inside  the 
building  lines.  These  are  already  suggestive  of  those  famous  New 
England  villages  and  cities,  such  as  New  Haven,  where  the  elms  are  a 
most  attractive  ornament.  No  villages  more  beautiful  are  to  be  found 
anywhere. 

At  the  intersection  of  Drexel  Avenue  is  a  magnificent  bronze  fountain 
presented  by  the  Misses  Drexel,  of  Philadelphia,  in  memory  of  their 
father,  after  whom  the  boulevard  was  named.  This  is  a  conspicuous 
ornament,  and  is  not  only  costly  and  beautiful,  but  is  useful  in  furnishing 
a  supply  of  water  for  the  multitudes  who  throng  the  place.  Time  will 
improve  this  very  pretty  boulevard  ;  in  fact,  all  great  avenues  must  have 
time  in  which  to  perfect  them.  Thi  work  is  not  done  in  a  day,  the  trees 
do  not  grow  in  one  season,  the  palatial  residences  are  not  erected  between 
two  suns.  The  only  wonder  is  that  in  a  town  so  new  as  Chicago,  one 
that  is  really  but  little  more  than  fifty  years  old,  there  should  be  so  many 
full-grown  improvements  and  attractions  that  are  commonly  found  only 
in  the  older  cities, 


129 


130       PARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST. 

Some  of  the  well-known  features  of  the  Grand  Boulevard  are  the 
"  Mound,"  in  which  are  displayed  the  most  elaborate  designs  and  con- 
trasts of  floral  coloring  ;  the  "  Sphinxes  "  and  "  Monument,"  wrought  in 
fine  detail  from  the  growing  cacti  ;  the  "  Sun  Dial,"  formed  of  the  same 
plant  and  showing  the  correct  solar  time  ;  the  "  Elephant,"  also  wrought 
from  cacti ;  the  American  Flag  in  correct  colors  of  coleus  and  other 
foliage  plants;  with  many  other  tasteful  and  beautiful  designs. 

Haymarket  Monument. 

On  the  West  Side  on  Randolph  Street,  in  Chicago's  early  years,  stood 
the  West  Side  market  house,  one  portion  of  which  was  used  as  a  police 
station.  But  for  many  years  the  square  has  been  entirely  open,  and  the 
Randolph  Street  cars  pass  through  it  from  east  to  west.  Approaching 
this,  the  celebrated  Haymarket  Square,  from  the  east,  the  traveler  per- 
ceives directly  at  the  intersection  of  Randolph  and  Desplaines  streets, 
the  figure  of  a  bronze  policeman  in  full  uniform,  with  the  right  hand 
upraised,  and  in  letters  of  gold,  on  the  polished  granite  pedestal,  this 
inscription  :  "  In  the  name  of  the  people  of  Illinois,  I  command  peace." 

This  monument  was  erected  by  the  grateful  citizens  of  Chicago  in 
memory  of  the  brave  officers  who  sacrificed  their  lives  and  health  in 
defense  of  the  law,  and  whose  cruel  and  cowardly  murder  sounded  the 
death  knell  of  anarchy  in  this  city  and  country.  The  tragedy  did  not 
really  take  place  in  the  square  itself,  but  the  mob  covered  the  whole 
northeast  corner  of  the  square,  and  extended  north  along  Desplaines 
Street,  encircling  a  wagon  in  front  of  Crane  Brothers'  steps,  between  the 
alley  runing  east  from  Desplaines  Street  and  Randolph  Street.  On  this 
wagon,  about  ten  feet  from  the  alley,  the  anarchist  speakers  stood  when 
they  addressed  the  crowd. 

On  the  night  of  May  4,  1886,  six  companies  of  policemen  were  detailed 
from  the  police  station  on  Desplaines  Street,  south  of  Randolph,  to 
disperse  the  mob,  because  inflammatory  speeches  and  unreasoning 
accusations  of  those  in  authority  were  fast  ripening  the  mob  for  violence 
and  worse.  The  police  came  on  at  quickstep,  in  close  order,  by  com- 
panies. When  close  to  the  wagon  they  halted,  and  the  commanding 
officer  ordered  their  dispersion  in  the  memorable  words  upon  the  monu- 
ment. Hardly  had  he  finished,  when,  as  if  in  answer  of  defiance,  a 
dynamite  bomb  whizzed  through  trie  air  from  the  mouth  of  the  alley. 
Falling  between  the  second  and  third  companies  of  policemen,  it 
performed  its  awful  mission,  killing  outright,  or  wounding  fatally,  seven 
policemen.  Many  others  were  seriously  injured.  The  method  of  attack 
showed  the  dastardly  cowardice  of  the  sneaking  thrower,  who  endangered 


THE    HAYMARKET    MONUMENT. 


131 


132       PARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST. 


his  friends,  and  women  who  were  in  the  crowd,  in  his  effort  to  demon- 
strate his  cruel  power. 

It  is  supposed,  with  good  reason,  that  he  went  east  to  a  blind  alley 
running  to  Randolph  Street,  thence  south  to  Randolph,  and  there 
mingling  with  the  crowd,  disappeared  effectually  from  public  view.  It 
is  not  known  how  many  of  the  mob  were  slain  by  the  bomb,  or  the 
return  fire  of  the  police,  for  their  friends,  following  the  customs  of  the 
savages  whose  blood-thirstiness  they  manifested,  carried  away  their 
dead  and  wounded,  and  quietly  buried  the  former,  and  such  of  the  latter 

as  afterwards  died,  lest 
testimony  should  accu- 
mulate against  them. 

The  ringleaders, 
Fielden,  Spies,  Engel, 
Lingg,  Neebe,  Schwab, 
and  Fisher  were  arrest- 
ed. The  Arbeiter  Zd- 
tuiig  office  near  Wash- 
ington Street,  on  the 
east  side  of  Fifth  Avenue, 
was  searched.  An  im- 
mense supply  of  dyna- 
mite, aims,  bombs,  and 
infernal  machines  was 
found  there.  Bombs 
were  discovered  in  other 
parts  of  the  city,  in  lum- 
ber yards,  under  side- 
walks, and  in  the  homes 
of  anarchists.  Parsons, 
like  the  coward  he  was, 
got  away  from  the  city;  for  a  while  he  successfully  concealed 
himself,  and  then,  in  a  sensational  hurrah,  he  surrendered,  in  the  idea 
that  he  could  bulldoze  the  people  of  the  great  State  of  Illinois  into  an 
acquittal.  Then  came  the  long  trial,  in  which  justice  gave  ample 
opportunity  to  these  traitors  to  the  country  which  had  given  them — the 
"apostles  of  unrest,"  and  refugees  from  the  laws  of  their  native  lands 
— a  home,  to  prove  any  extenuating  circumstances  whatever.  Nothing 
could  be  offered  but  an  infernal  desire  for  blood,  and  an  insane  craving 
for  notoriety.  The  records  exist  in  the  archives  of  the  courts,  of  the 
speeches;  of  the  finding  of  the  jury;  the  sentence,  which  voiced  the 


DREXEL    FOUNTAIN. 


134       PARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST. 


sentiment  of  the  whole  American  people  who   love  order  and  respect 
law ;  of  the  appeal  to  the  Supreme  Court,  and  its  refusal  to  interfere. 

Then  came  frantic  efforts  to  have  the  death  sentence  commuted,  but 
nothing  stayed  the  hand  of  justice,  nor  the  coming  of  the  eleventh  day 
of  November,  1887,  the  day  of  execution.  The  "tiger  anarchist," 
Lingg,  to  escape  the  gallows,  inserted  a  small  dynamite  cartridge  in  his 
mouth  and  blew  his  head  off.  Parsons,  Spies,  Engel,  and  Fisher  died  on 
the  gallows,  but  Fielden,  Schwab,  and  Neebe  went  to  the  penitentiary, 
the  first  two  for  life.  The  popular  excitement  hardly  quieted  a  moment 

for  the  whole  eighteen 
months.  The  executed 
anarchists  lie  in  Wald- 
heim  Cemetery,  where 
those  who  desire 
chaos,  and  dislike 
peace  and  harmony, 
make  pilgrimages  to 
air  their  obstinacy. 
The  cell  in  which 
Lingg  commited  sui- 
cide is  in  "  murderers' 
row,"  directly  opposite 
the  "  cage,"  in  the 
county  jail.  The  rest 
of  the  condemned 
anarchists  occupied 
cells  along  this  row. 

Some  years  ago  a 
valuable  plot  of 
ground  was  present- 
ed to  Chicago  by  the 
Hon.  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  Mr.  Douglas  was  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  men  cf  the  country,  and  received  from  Illinois  the  honor 
of  a  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate.  At  his  death  it  was  felt  that  his 
name  should  be  honored  by  some  permanent  memorial,  both  on  account 
of  his  gift  to  the  city  and  the  distinguished  services  he  had  rendered  to 
the  State.  Groveland  and  Woodlawn  parks  adjoin  each  other,  and  face 
the  grounds  of  the  old  Chicago  University.  The  parks  lie  between 
Cottage  Grove  Avenue  and  the  lake  beyond  Thirty-third  Street.  These 
with  the  University  grounds  were  the  gift  of  Mr.  Douglas,  and  here  was 
built  the  monument  to  commemorate  his  name  and  deeds.  The 


DOUGLAS   MONUMENT. 


PARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST.       135 


mausoleum  containing  his  remains  is  of  granite,  and  the  magnificent  shaft 
rising  above  it  to  the  height  of  104  feet  is  also  of  granite.  Surmounting 
the  shaft  is  a  life-like  bronze  statue  of  Mr.  Douglas,  while  four-corner 
pedestals  are  occupied  by  figures  representing  "  Illinois,"  "  History," 
"  Justice "  and  "  Eloquence."  The  marble  sarcophagus  in  the  crypt 
bears  on  its  side  the  following  inscription:  "  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  born 
April  23,  1813  ;  died  June  3,  1861.  *  Tell  my  children  to  obey  the  law? 
and  uphold  the  Constitution.'  "  This  imposing  memorial  of  the  great 
Senator  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $100,000. 

The  ingenious  method  for  obtaining  a  good  supply  of  fresh  water  for 
the  city  has  already  been 
referred  to.  At  the  outset  it 
was  not  supposed  that  the 
site  of  Chicago,  which  was 
really  a  swamp,  was  the  most 
healthful  location  for  a  city, 
and  therefore  additional  atten- 
tion was  paid  to  the  water 
supply.  It  is  one  of  the 
simplest  facts  in  the  science 
of  hygiene  that  impure  water 
means  disease  and  death. 
But  for  a  long  time  it  was  a 
problem  as  to  how  the  city 
could  obtain  pure  water.  The 
early  settlers  could  go  to  the 
lake  or  river;  at  length  the 
lake  shore  became  filthy,  and 
so  did  the  river.  In  1 834  the 
Board  of  Trustees  paid  $95.50  STEPHEN  A.  DOUGLAS. 

for  digging  a  well,  and  this  was  the  first  expenditure  of  money 
toward  meeting  the  wants  of  the  town.  As  late  as  1842  water-peddlers 
used  to  come  through  the  streets,  and  those  who  were  particularly  fas- 
tidious could  procure  their  supply  by  buying  it.  During  this  year  the 
Chicago  Hydraulic  Works  were  completed  and  began  to  pump  water 
from  the  lake  into  the  houses.  A  reservoir  was  attached  to  the  works, 
about  two  miles  of  wood  pipe  were  laid,  and  a  tvventy-five-horse  power 
engine  drew  the  water  from  the  lake.  This  clumsy  method,  which  was 
not  really  adequate  to  the  wants  of  the  town,  especially  in  case  of  fire, 
could  not  long  survive,  for  the  reason  that  it  was  anything  but  the 
"  fittest." 


136       PARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST. 

New  works  were  commenced  in  1854.  Improved  machinery  was 
introduced,  yet  the  growth  of  the  city  finally  rendered  the  works  inade- 
quate to  the  demands,  and  it  was  found  necessary  in  1863  to  take  active 
measures  for  procuring  an  increased  supply.  The  plan  which  was  adopted 
was  successful,  and  the  water  supply  of  the  city  is  now  brought  from  a 
point  in  the  lake  several  miles  distant  from  the  shore.  In  1887,  a  con- 


CHICAGO    WATER    WORKS. 

tract  was  entered  into  for  the  construction  of  a  new  tunnel  to  be  eight 
feet  in  diameter  and  to  extend  four  miles  out  into  the  lake.  Thus  it  will 
be  seen  that  unless  Lake  Michigan  fails  the  water  supply  will  not.  It  is 
simply  a  question  of  engines,  pumps  and  water  pipes.  There  is  no 
reason  why  the  city  should  not  be  well  furnished  the  year 
round. 


PARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST.       137 

What  is  known  as  the  Waterworks  Crib  is  an  interesting  place  to 
visit.  Allusion  has  already  been  made  to  the  plan  for  obtaining  water, 
which  embraced  the  construction  of  the  tunnel  two  miles  long  to  be  dug 
out  from  the  shore  under  the  bottom  of  Lake  Michigan,  through  which 
the  pure  water  of  the  lake  was  to  be  brought  into  the  city.  The  favor 
with  which  the  plan  was  received  was  offset  by  the  doubts  and  protests 
of  many  who  did  not  consider  it  feasible,  but  the  Legislature,  in  1863, 
sanctioned  it,  and  a  year  later  it  was  approved  by  Congress.  The  first 
spade  was  put  into,  the  ground  March  17,  1864,  with  appropriate 
ceremonies. 

A  Wonderful    Piece    of  Engineering. 

Near  the  lake  shore  a  shaft  nine  feet  in  diameter  was  sunk  and  secured 
by  an  iron  cylinder.  This  was  lowered  to  a  depth  of  sixty-nine  feet, 
and  then  the  tunnel  was  started  in  a  horizontal  direction  into  the  lake. 
This  tunnel  has  a  length  of  10.587  feet.  Fortunately  the  material 
encountered  was  tough  clay,  and  the  work  of  excavation  was  interrupted 
by  but  few  layers  of  sand.  The  form  of  the  tunnel  is  nearly  round ; 
the  masonry  consists  of  an  eight-inch  thickness  of  brick.  At  the  same 
time  was  begun,  at  the  North  Pier,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chicago  River, 
the  construction  of  the  Crib,  which  was  to  be  let  down  into  the  water 
at  the  outer  end  of  the  tunnel,  to  contain  and  protect  the  receiving  pipe. 
It  was  built  very  strong  and  water-tight,  in  the  form  of  a  low  five- 
cornered  column,  forty  feet  high  and  ninety-eight  and  one-half  feet  in 
circumference,  of  twelve-inch  oak  and  spruce  beams.  The  five  corners 
were  heavily  plated  with  iron  for  the  purpose  of  strengthening  the  Crib 
and  protecting  it  against  ice. 

In  July,  1 865,  the  completed  monster  was  launched  amid  great  rejoicing, 
piloted  to  ks  destination,  brought  into  position,  and  sunk  by  letting  water 
into  the  flood  gates.  Then  its  wall-chambers  were  well  filled  with  stone, 
and  anchored  to  the  ground  by  means  of  Mitchell's  marine  mooring 
screws,  such  as  were  used  in  the  Thames  tunnel.  After  the  central  divi- 
sion had  been  pumped  clear  of  water,  the  lake  shaft  was  dug,  from  the 
bottom  cf  the  Crib,  to  the  necessary  depth  of  twenty-seven  feet.  The 
shaft  was  lined  with  an  iron  cylinder  two  and  one-half  inches  thick  and 
nine  feet  in  diameter,  and  on  January  i,  1866,  the  other  end  of  the  tunnel 
was  begun  from  its  bottom. 

The  work  progressed  from  both  ends  by  day  and  night,  and  after  four- 
fifths  of  the  distance  had  been  dug  from  the  shore,  and  one-fifth  from  the 
Crib,  the  two  parts  met  November  30,  1866.  This  completed  a  work 
which  the  London  Times  called  the  greatest  of  modern  times.  At  the 


PARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST. 


Paris  Exposition  of  1867,  the  great  work  was  distinguished  by  the  award 
of  a  medal.  Tunnel  and  Crib  were  cemented  within,  and  a  light-tower 
and  a  watchman's  dwelling  were  erected  on  the  latter.  The  Crib  was 
then  protected  by  a  break-water  erected  around  it.  The  internal  finish- 
ing of  the  tunnel  was  so  well  done,  that  when  examined  in  1882,  not  the 
slightest  rent  was  found. 

London  has  her  tunnel  under  the  river  Thames,  and  why  should  there 
not  be  tunnels  under  the  river  in  Chicago  ?  With  the  growth  of  the 
city  the  river  has  become  a  waterway  of  great  importance;  at  the  same 
time  it  has  been  a  pro- 
blem as  to  how  the 
river  could  be  used  and 
a  sufficient  number  of 
bridges  could  be  pro- 
vided for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  people. 
Finally  it  was  said: 
"  Why  should  bridges 
alone  be  used  ?  Why 
not  dig  down  and  go 
under  the  river  as  well 
as  over  it  ?  If  the  river 
will  not  accommodate 
itself  to  man,  man  must 
outwit  the  river.  It 
a  pity  if  one  little  stream 
must  interrupt  free  com- 
munication between  the 
different  parts  of  the 
city." 

To    a    wide-awake 
Chicagoan,    hurrying    to 
per    cent.,   with    visions 


WATERWORKS    CRTB. 


business,  bent  on  making  a  hundred 
of  a  fortune  floating  before  his  eyes,  it 
makes  very  little  difference  how  he  gets  from  one  side  of  a  river  to 
the  other.  If  he  cannot  go  over  he  would  willingly  crawl  under. 

And  so  the  city  began  to  talk  about  making  tunnels,  digging  out  holes 
under  the  river  and  arching  them,  so  that  foot  passengers  and  vehicles 
could  go  through  without  being  in  danger  of  having  the  river  overhead 
come  through. 

The  average  citizen  of  Chicago  believes  nothing  to  be  impossible,  and 
is  fully  persuaded  that  he  will  yet  cross  the  river  in  a  flying  machine,  and 


140       PARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST. 

will  have  no  use  for  either  tunnels  or  bridges  The  idea  of  boring 
holes  in  the  ground,  thus  connecting  the  different  parts  of  the  city,  did 
not  stagger  him  in  the  least.  The  work  was  commenced  and  carried 
forward.  Two  tunnels  were  constructed,  one  at  Washington  Street 
and  the  other  at  La  Salle  Street.  These  were  the  first,  and  it  was 
understood  that  if  they  were  a  success  others  would  follow.  The  two 
tunnels,  however,  did  not  come  into  general  use,  for  the  reason  that 
the  swing  bridges  were  so  constructed  that  they  could  be  handled  quickly. 

Turning  the  Tunnels  into  Thoroughfares. 

Still  the  western  man  does  not  like  to  be  interrupted  ;  if  he  is  going 
anywhere  he  is  averse  to  standing  still,  even  for  an  instant.  To  be  com- 
pelled to  stop  just  as  he  gets  to  a  bridge  and  see  it  swing  around,  so  that 
if  he  should  attempt  to  go  forward  he  would  land  in  the  river,  by  which 
his  appearance  would  be  spoiled  and  his  business  interfered  with,  was 
not  a  thing  that  afforded  him  any  special  satisfaction.  Some  inconveni- 
ence, however,  must  be  put  up  with,  for  the  reason  that  rivers  are  likely 
to  take  their  own  course,  and  nature  is  not  always  ready  to  accommo- 
date herself  to  the  traveling  public. 

When  the  cable-car  system  was  adopted  it  was  immediately  seen  that 
the  two  tunnels  already  built  could  be  turned  to  good  account.  These 
tunnels  were  constructed  for  the  city,  and  before  the  cable-car  company 
secured  the  privilege  of  using  them  they  were  mere  holes  in  the  ground 
and  represented  the  waste  of  so  much  money.  The  old  saying  of 
"putting  money  into  a  hole  in  the  ground"  was  literally  realized  in  this 
case.  In  consideration  of  the  city  allowing  the  Cable  Car  Company  to 
use  the  La  Salle  Street  tunnel,  the  company  built  and  donated  to  the 
city  two  double,  steel,  steam  bridges  across  the  river,  one  at  Wells  and 
the  other  at  Clark  Street  at  a  cost  of  over  $300,000. 

The  Washington  Street  tunnel  was  in  a  much  worse  condition  than 
the  other,  in  fact,  had  been  abandoned,  and  before  it  could  be  used  had 
to  be  rebuilt  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $200,000.  Both  tunnels  are  now  totally 
unlike  what  they  were  a  few  years  ago,  and  the  public  not  only  recog- 
nizes the  wisdom  of  their  present  use,  but  finds  in  them  a  remedy  for 
the  interruption  to  travel  and  the  vexatious  delays  at  the  swing-bridges, 
which  is  worth  additional  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  to  the  city 
every  year.  These  holes  in  the  ground  that  remained  for  a  long  time 
unused  are  now  helping  to  solve  the  problem  of  rapid  transit.  Indeed, 
they  are  a  suggestion  of  the  underground  system  of  railways,  such  as 
in  London  have  proved  to  be  a  great  success,  fur  there,  while  the  larger 
part  of  the  city  is  above  ground,  another  considerable  part  is  always 


PARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST.      141 

travelling  underneath,  and  at  such  a  rate  as  renders  it  possible  to  pass 

from  one  part  of  the  great  metropolis  to  another  in  a  short  space  of  time. 

For  the  use  of  the  cable-car    system,  one  of  the   power-houses  is 

located  at  the  corner  of  Jefferson  and  Washington  Streets.    This  station 


WEST    APPROACH    TO    WASHINGTON    STREET    TUNNEL. 

is  furnished  with  two  5OO-horse-power  Wetherell-Corliss  engines,  which 
are  used  to  operate  the  Washington  Street  tunnel  loop.  The  cars  of 
both  the  Madison  Street  and  Milwaukee  Avenue  lines  are  delivered  to 
the  cable  at  this  station,  and  by  it  they  are  drawn  through  the  tunnel 


PARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST.       143 

and  around  the  loop.  The  service  of  this  particular  cable  is  very  exact- 
ing. At  times  the  heavily  loaded  trains  are  but  a  few  seconds  apart, 
yet  there  is  seldom,  if  ever,  any  cause  for  complaint,  so  perfect  are  all 
the  details  and  so  elaborate  the  machinery  and  appliances. 

The  dynamos  for  lighting  the  tunnel  are  also  located  at  this  point,  as 
is  also  the  base  of  an  electric  signal  system  which  extends  along  the 
several  cable  lines.  By  this  system  the  conductor  or  gripman  can  com- 
municate with  the  power-houses  and  offices  at  any  time,  which  is  an 
adjunct  of  almost  incalculable  advantage  in  keeping  the  tracks  clear  and 
promptly  stopping  the  machinery  in  case  of  accidents  from  any  cause. 

Harbor  of  Chicago. 

Chicago  is  a  commercial  town,  and  has  a  larger  commerce  than  one 
would  suppose  possible  to  any  town  not  situated  on  the  seaboard.  It 
must  be  borne  in  mind,  that  our  great  inland  lakes  form  an  ocean  by 
themselves,  and  perhaps  there  is  no  water  surface  in  the  world  the  same 
size  as  that  of  Lake  Michigan,  on  which  is  done  a  larger  business. 

The  necessity  for  a  convenient  and  commodious  harbor  of  Chicago 
was  made  apparent  many  years  ago,  and  the  necessary  steps  were  taken 
to  secure  it.  All  river  and  harbor  improvements  go  on  slowly,  both  on 
account  of  the  vast  amount  of  work  to  be  done,  and  the  inevitable  delays 
in  obtaining  appropriations.  The  present  intention  is  to  provide  for 
Chicago  a  harbor  which  will  be  a  safe  home  for  her  shipping.  The 
sheltered  area  is  sixteen,  feet  in  depth,  and  the  surface  is  about  270  acres. 
Communicating  slips  along  the  lake  front,  with  an  area  of  185  acres, 
make  the  grand  total  about  455  acres.  This,  it  will  be  understood,  is  in 
addition  to  the  river  with  which  the  harbor  communicates. 

There  is  also  an  exterior  breakwater,  one-third  of  a  mile  north  of  the 
end  of  the  North  Pier,  so  situated  as  to  protect  vessels  entering  the 
mouth  of  the  river.  The  length  of  this  outer  breakwater  is  5,500  feet. 
Other  breakwaters  have  been  constructed  so  as  to  afford  as  much  pro- 
tection as  possible  to  the  vessels  required  for  the  commercial  trans- 
actions of  the  great  city. 

Nearly  every  vessel  that  enters  this  port  seeks  the  piers  along  the 
various  branches  of  the  river.  The  river  branches  have  their  ramifica- 
tion through  the  city,  and  in  consequence  the  shipping  is  strung  out  for 
many  miles,  presenting  an  insignificant  appearance,  but  in  the  aggregate 
it  is  said  to  be  greater  than  that  of  any  other  port  in  America.  The 
river  is  cramped  and  totally  inadequate  for  the  vast  commerce  that 
threads  its  way  through  the  murky,  filthy  channel.  The  proper  place  for 
the  shipping  interests  is  within  the  harbor,  and  sooner  or  later  it  must 


144       PARKS,  BOULEVARDS  AND  OTHER  POINTS  OF  INTEREST. 

come  to  this.  When  this  revolution  is  effected,  Chicago  will  present  a 
harbor  scene  that  can  scarcely  be  rivaled  in  any  part  of  the  world.  The 
irritating  nuisance  of  swinging  bridges  would  be  abated  and,  while  it 
would  make  the  lake  front  portion  of  the  city  undesirable  for  elegant 
hotels  and  aristocratic  residences,  the  property  would  be  enhanced  in  value 
for  purposes  of  shipping  and  commerce. 

The  foregoing  description  of  Chicago,  comprising  the  history  of  the 
city  and  the  chief  points  of  interest,  will  serve  as  a  guide  to  the  visitor 
who  will  be  struck  with  the  exceedingly  rapid  growth  of  the  town,  its 
extraordinary  enterprise,  and  the  brilliant  future  before  it,  of  which 
there  are  many  indications.  Undoubtedly  Chicago  is  in  its  infancy.  An 
immense  and  fruitful  territory  feeds  its  markets,  and  the  great  chain  of 
lakes  is  the  highway  of  its  commerce.  The  city  has  felt  great  pride  in 
the  World's  Columbian  Exposition.  The  outlay  of  time,  money  and 
brain  work  and  energy  required  in  this  vast  undertaking  is  beyond  all 
conception.  The  Great  Fair  found  a  suitable  home,  and  its  magnificent 
success  is  only  what  might  have  been  expected  from  the  interest  taken 
in  it  by  the  leading  citizens  of  the  Western  Metropolis. 


The  World's  Columbian  Exposition. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Celebration  of  the  Discovery  of  America  by 
Columbus. 

NO  Exposition  so  imposing  and  magnificent  as  that  at  Chicago 
has  ever  before  been  held.    The  foremost  nations  of  the  world 
were  interested  in  it,  and  by  large  appropriations  and  splendid 
exhibits  contributed  to  the  success  of  the  vast  undertaking. 
The  discovery  of  America  by  Columbus  is  the  most  important  event  of 
modern  times.     After  four  hundred  years  the  new  world  is  the  rival  of 
the  old.     Greece  and  Rome  had  their  glory  which  is  now  buried  in  the 
fragments  of  their  ruins  and  lives  only  in  history.     Here  in  the  new 
world  was  to  spring  up  a  brilliant  civilization  destined  to  eclipse  that  of 
ancient  nations.     The  progress  of  America  in  science,  art,  agriculture, 
material  and  moral  achievements,  is  the  miracle  of  history. 

By  common  consent  the  4<DOth  anniversary  of  the  discovery  of 
America  was  to  be  celebrated  on  a  magnificent  scale.  It  was  considered 
appropriate  that  other  nations  should  be  invited  to  participate  in  the 
great  event  intended  to  commemorate  the  birth  of  the  new  world.  All 
classes  of  citizens  in  the  United  States  accepted  with  enthusiasm  the 
proposition  to  hold  in  1893  an  International  Exposition.  It  is  of  little 
consequence  to  whom  belongs  the  honor  of  having  suggested  a  World's 
Fair,  but  it  may  be  said  that  as  early  as  November,  1885,  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Directors  of  the  Interstate  Exposition  Company  at  Chicago,  Mr. 
George  Mason  introduced  resolutions  in  favor  of  such  a  celebration 
Nothing  definite  was  done  at  this  time,  yet  the  proposition  was  not  for- 
gotten, and  soon  after  the  newspapers  of  the  Eastern  States  brought  it  to 
the  attention  of  the  people.  It  was  received  with  universal  favor  and 
action  was  taken  toward  a  permanent  organization  to  carry  out  the 
proposed  object. 

The  People  Enthusiastic  for  a  Celebration. 

In  Massachusetts  a  Board  of  Promotion  was  organized,  with  ex-Gov 
ernor  Claflin  as  President,  to  secure  the  co-operation   of  Congress.     On 
July  31,  1886,  Hon.  George  R.  Hoar  introduced  into  the  Senate  a   reso- 
lution for  the  appointment  of  a  Congressional  Committee  of  fourteen  to 
10  145 


146  CELEBRATION  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA. 

consider  the  advisability  of  such  an  undertaking.  After  due  deliberation 
the  Committee  reported  favorably.  The  Board  of  Promotion  went  to 
work  zealously ;  the  matter  was  widely  discussed  by  the  newspaper 
press ;  it  became  evident  that  the  project  would  be  welcomed  by  the 
whole  country,  and  that  there  would  be  no  difficulty  in  securing  the 
large  amount  of  money  required  for  such  an  Exposition.  There  was 
substantial  unanimity  everywhere  concerning  the  project. 

The  Centennial  Exhibition  at  Philadelphia  in  1876  was  a  remarkable 
success,  and  gave  a  strong  impulse  to  all  our  industrial  arts,  while  at  the 
same  time  it  served  the  higher  end  of  bringing  us  into  closer  frater- 
nal relations  with  the  other  nations  of  the  globe.  The  success  of  the 
Exhibition  of  1876  gave  strength  to  the  feeling  that  another  of  larger  pro- 
portions could  be  held,which  would  show  the  progress  of  the  United  States 
from  the  beginning  of  our  history  down  to  the  present  time.  In  London, 
Paris,  Vienna  and  other  parts  of  Europe  similar  expositions  have  been 
held,  and  each  of  these  was  an  important  event,  not  only  showing  the 
resources  and  achievements  of  the  nations  participating,  but  also  bring- 
ing them  together  and  strengthening  international  ties. 

A  Home  for  the  Exposition. 

A  hot  rivalry  at  once  sprang  up  between  a  number  of  cities,  each  of 
which  was  eager  to  obtain  the  honor  of  furnishing  a  site  for  the  World's 
Fair.  The  friendly  strife  finally  narrowed  itself  down  to  New  York  and 
Chicago,  but  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  a  convenient  site  for  the  exhibi- 
tion operated  strongly  as  a  barrier  against  the  former  city. 

The  Act  of  Congress,  which  definitely  selected  Chicago  as  the  city  in 
which  the  Exposition  should  be  held  and  which  fixed  the  dates  of  the 
celebration  to  be  held  in  1892  and  the  formal  opening  and  closing  of  the 
Exposition  in  1893,  was  approved  by  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
April  25,  1890. 

The  preamble  of  the  Act  was  as  follows : 

"  WHEREAS,  It  is  fit  and  appropriate  that  the  four  hundredth  anniversary 
of  the  discovery  of  America  be  commemorated  by  an  exhibition  of  the 
resources  of  the  United  States  of  America,  their  development,  and  of  the 
progress  of  civilization  in  the  New  World  ;  and 

"  WHEREAS,  Such  an  exhibition  should  be  of  a  national  and  inter- 
national charater,  so  that  not  only  the  people  of  our  Union  and  this  con- 
tinent, but  those  of  all  nations  as  well,  can  participate,  and  should  there- 
fore have  the  sanction  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States:  Therefore 

"  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United 
States  of  America  in  Congress  assembled,  That  an  exhibition  of  arts, 


CELEBRATION  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA.  147 

industries,  manufactures,  and  products  of  the  soil,  mine,  and  sea  shall 
be  inaugurated  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  ninety-two,  in  the  city 
of  Chicago,  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  as  hereinafter  provided." 

The  Act  provided  : 

"  That  the  President  is  hereby  empowered  and  directed  to  hold  a 
naval  review  in  New  York  Harbor,  in  April,  eighteen  hundred  and 
ninety-  three,  and  to  extend  to  foreign  nations  an  invitation  to  send  ships 
of  war  to  join  the  United  States  Navy  in  rendezvous  at  Hampton  Roads 
and  proceed  thence  to  said  review  : 

"  That  said  commission  shall  provide  for  the  dedication  of  the  build- 
ings of  the  World's 
Columbian  Expo- 
sition in  said  city 
of  Chicago  on  the 
twelfth  dayof  Octo- 
ber, eighteen  hun- 
dred and  ninety- 
two,  with  appro. 
priate  ceremonies, 
andsaid  Exposition 
shall  be  open  to 
visitors  no  later 
than  the  first  day 


ty-three,  and  shall 
be  closed  at  such  a 
time  as  the  Com- 
mission may  deter- 

•         i  .    i    ,  EX-PRESIDENT    HARRISON. 

mine,  but  not  later 

than  the  thirtieth  day  of  October  thereafter."     The  Act  provided  : 

"That  whenever  the  President  of  the  United  States  shall  be  notified 
by  the  Commission  that  provision  has  been  made  for  the  grounds  and 
buildings  for  the  uses  herein  provided  for,  and  there  has  also  been  filed 
with  him  by  the  said  corporation,  known  as  '  The  World's  Exposition 
of  eighteen  hundred  and  ninety-two,'  satisfactory  proof  that  a  sum  not 
less  than  ten  million  dollars,  to  be  used  and  expended  for  the  purposes 
of  the  Exposition  herein  authorized,  has  in  fact  been  raised  or  provided 
for  by  subscription  or  other  legally  binding  means,  he  shall  be  authorized, 
through  the  Department  of  State,  to  make  proclamation  of  the  same, 
setting  forth  the  time  at  which  the  Exposition  will  open  and  close,  and 


148  CELEBRATION  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA. 

the  place  at  which  it  will  be  held ;  and  he  shall  communicate  to  the 
diplomatic  representatives  of  foreign  nations  copies  of  the  same,  together 
with  such  regulations  as  may  be  adopted  by  the  Commission,  for  publica- 
tion in  their  respective  countries,  and  he  shall,  on  behalf  of  the  govern- 
ment and  people,  invite  foreign  nations  to  take  part  in  the  said  Exposition 
and  appoint  representatives  thereto  : 

"  That  all  articles  which  shall  be  imported  from  foreign  countries  for 
the  sole  purpose  of  exhibition  at  said  Exposition,  upon  which  there  shall 
be  a  tariff  or  customs  duty,  shall  be  admitted  free  of  payment  of  duty, 
customs  fees,  or  charges  under  such  regulations  as  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  shall  prescribe;  but  it  shall  be  lawful  at  any  ime  during  the 
Exhibition  to  sell  for  delivery  at  the  close  of  the  Exposition  any  goods 
or  property  imported  for  and  actually  on  exhibition  in  the  Exposition 
buildings  or  on  its  grounds,  subject  to  such  regulations  for  the  security 
of  the  revenue  and  the  collection  of  the  import  duties  as  the  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  shall  prescribe :  Provided,  That  all  such  articles  when 
sold  or  withdrawn  for  consumption  in  the  United  States  shall  be  subject 
to  the  duty,  if  any,  imposed  upon  such  articles  by  the  revenue  laws  in 
force  at  the  date  of  importation,  and  all  penalties  prescribed  by  law 
shall  be  applied  and  enforced  against  such  articles,  and  against  the 
persons  who  may  by  guilty  of  any  illegal  sale  or  withdrawal." 

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  Act,  the  task  of  raising  the 
required  $5,000,000  was  proceeded  with.  Pending  the  action  of  Con- 
gress prominent  citizens  of  Chicago  had  formed  the  Exposition  Company 
and  invited  subscriptions  at  the  rate  of  $10  per  share.  The  responses 
were  quick  and  generous,  and  29,  374  shareholders  subscribed  $5,467,350. 
The  Legislature  of  the  State  authorized  the  city  of  Chicago  to  bond 
itself  for  $5,000,000  in  aid  of  the  Fair,  the  bonds  to  be  available  as  soon 
as  $3,000,000  of  the  capital  stock  had  been  paid  in. 

A  Proclamation. 

In  view  of  these  facts  the  President  of  the  United  States  issued  the 
following  proclamation,  December  24,  1890: 

"  By  the  President  of  the  United  States  of  America : 

"WHEREAS,  satisfactory  proof  has  been  presented  to  me  that  provisior 
has  been  made  for  adequate  grounds  and  buildings  for  the  uses  of  the 
World's  Columbian  Exposition,  and  that  a  sum  not  less  than  $10,000,000, 
to  be  used  and  expended  for  the  purposes  of  said  Exposition,  has  been 
provided  in  accordance  with  the  conditions  and  requirements  of  Section 
IO  of  an  Act  entitled  '  An  Act  to  provide  for  celebrating  the  four 


CELEBRATION  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA.  149 

hundredth  anniversary  of  the  discovery  of  America  by  Chiristopher 
Columbus  by  holding  an  International  Exhibition  of  arts,  industries, 
manufactures,  and  the  products  of  the  soil,  mine,  and  sea  in  the  city  of 
Chicago,  in  the  State  of  Illinois/  approved  April  25,  1890; 

"  Now,  THEREFORE,  I,  Benjamin   Harrison,  President  of  the  United 
States,  by  virtue  of  the  authority  vested  in  me  by  said  Act,  do  hereby 


THOMAS    W.    PALMER. 

declare  and  proclaim  that  such  International  Exhibition  will  be  opened 
on  the  first  day  of  May,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  ninety-three, 
in  the  city  of  Chicago,  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  will  not  be  closed 
before  the  last  Thursday  in  October  of  the  same  year. 

"And  in  the  name  of  the  Government  and  of  the  People  of  the  United 
States,  I  do  hereby  invite  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  to  take  part  in  the 


150  CELEBRATION  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA. 

commemoration  of  an  event  that  is  pre-eminent  in  human  history  and 
of  lasting  interest  to  mankind  by  appointing  representatives  thereto,  and 
sending  such  exhibits  to  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition  as  will  most 
fitly  and  fully  illustrate  their  resources,  their  industries,  and  their  progress 
in  civilization. 

"  IN  TESTIMONY  WHEREOF  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  caused 
the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 

"  Done  at  the  city  of  Washington,  this  twenty-fourth  day  of  December, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  ninety, 
and  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  the  one  hundred  and 
fifteenth. 

"  By  the  President : 

"  BENJ.  HARRISON. 
**  JAMES  G.  ELAINE, 

41  Secretary  of  State  " 

The  Organization. 

The  management  of  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition  was  divided 
as  follows : 

I.  National  Commission  (authorized  by  Act  of  Congress).  2.  World's 
Columbian  Exposition  (organized  under  laws  of  the  State  of  Illinois). 
3.  Board  of  Lady  Managers  (authorized  by  Act  of  Congress).  4.  World's 
Congress  Auxiliary. 

The  Director-General  was  made  the  chief  executive  officer  of  the 
Exposition,  and  the  work  was  divided  into  the  following  great  depart- 
ments : 

A — Agriculture,  Food,  and  Food  Products,  Farming  Machinery  and 
Appliances. 

B — Viticulture,  Horticulture,  and  Floriculture. 

C — Live  Stock,  Domestic  and  Wild  Animals. 

D — Fish,  Fisheries,  Fish  Products,  and  Apparatus  of  Fishing. 

E — Mines,  Mining,  and  Metallurgy 

F — Machinery. 

C — Transportation  Exhibits — Railways,  Vessels,  Vehicles. 

H — Manufactures. 

J — Electricity  and  Electrical  Appliances. 

K — Fine  Arts — Pictorial,  Plastic,  and  Decorative. 

L — Liberal  Arts,  Education,  Engineering,  Public  Works,  Architecture, 
Music,  and  the  Drama. 

M — Ethnology,  Archaeology,  Progress  of  Labor  and  Invention — Iso- 
lated and  Collective  Exhibits. 


CELEBRATION  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA.  151 

N — Forestry  and  Forest  products. 

O — Publicity  and  Promotion. 

P — Foreign  Affairs. 

Lyman  J.  Gage,  of  the  first  National  Bank  of  Chicago,  was  president 
of  the  Exposition  Company  during  its  first  year.  In  his  report,  made 
April  I,  1891,  he  estimated  the  resources  of  the  company  at  $21,000,000, 
and  the  expenditures  at  $17,625,453.  It  was  impossible  at  that  time, 
however,  to  form  an  accurate  estimate,  as  the  various  State  appropriations 
had  not  been  made,  nor  the  National  appropriation  by  Congress  of  i 
$2,500,000. 

World's  Fair  Commission. 

A  commission  was  provided  for  by  Congress,  consisting  of  two  com- 
missioners and  two  alternates  from  each  State  and  Territory  and  the 
District  of  Columbia,  and  eight  commissioners  and  eight  alternates  at 
large,  all  of  whom  were  commissioned  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States. 

This  Commission  and  the  corporation  organized  under  the  laws  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  were  charged  jointly  with  the  task  of  making  all  needful 
preparations  for  the  Exposition,  and  conducting  it  to  a  successful  termi- 
nation. The  officers  of  the  National  Commission  as  provided  for  above, 
and  of  the  Columbian  Exposition,  or  local  board,  are  given  in  the 
following  directory : 

Officers  of  the  World's  Columbian  Commission. 

~HOS.  W.  PALMER,  Michigan,  President. 
THOS.  M.  WALLER,  Connecticut,  First  Vice-President. 
M.  H.  DE  YOUNG,  California,  Second  Vice-President. 
DAVIDSON  B.  PENN,  Louisiana,  Third  Vice-President. 
GORTON  W.  ALLEN,  New  York,  Fourth  Vice-President. 
ALEX.  B.  ANDREWS,  North  Carolina,  Fifth  Vice-President. 
JOHN  T.  DICKINSON,  Texas,  Secretary. 

JAMES  A.  McKENZiE,  Kentucky,  Vice-Chairman  Ex.  Com. 
GEORGE  R.  DAVIS,  Illinois,  Director  General. 

Commissioners  of  the  District  of  Columbia. 

Commissioners.  Alternates. 

Alexander  T.  Britton,  Washington.  E.  Kurtz  Johnson,  Washington. 

Albert  A.  Wilson,  Washington.  Dorsey  Clagett,  Washington. 

Commisioners  of  the  States. 

ALABAMA. 

Frederick  G.  Bromberg,  Mobile.  Gotthold  L.  Werth,  Montgomery. 

Oscar  R.  Hundley,  Huntsville.  William  S.  Hull,  Sheffield. 


152 


CELEBRATION  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA. 


Commissioners. 

John  D.  Adams,  Little  Rock. 
J.  H.  Clendening,  Fort  Smith. 


ARKANSAS. 

Alternates. 

J.  T.  W.  Tillar,  Little  Rock. 
Thomas  H.  Leslie,  Stuttgar' 


CALIFORNIA. 

Michael  H.  de  Young,  San  Francisco.         George  Hazleton,  San  Francisco. 
William  Forsyth,  Fresno.  Russ  D.  Stephens,  Sacramento. 


Roswell  E.  Goodell,  Leadville. 
Joseph  H.  Smith,  Denver. 


Leverett  Brainard,  Hartford. 
Thomas  M.  Waller,  New  London. 


George  V.  Massey,  Dover. 
Willard  Hall  Porter,  Wilmington. 


C.  F.  A.  Bielby,  De  Land. 
Richard  Turnbull,  Monticello. 


Lafayette  McLaws,  Savannah. 
Charlton  H.  Way,  Savannah. 


George  A.  Manning,  Post  Falls. 
John  E.  Stearns,  Nampa. 


Charles  H.  Deere,  Moline. 
Adlai  T.  Ewing,  Chicago. 


Thomas  E.  Garvin,  Evansville, 
Elijah  B.  Martindale,  Indianapolis. 

Joseph  Eiboeck,  Des  Moines. 
William  F.  King,  Mt.  Vernon. 


Charles  K.  Holliday,  Jr.,  Topeka. 
Reese  E.  Price,  Hutchinson. 


John  Bennett,  Richmond. 
James  A.  McKenzie,  Oak  Grove. 


COLORADO. 

Henry  B.  Gillespie,  Aspen. 
O.  C.  French,  New  Windsor. 

CONNECTICUT. 

Charles  F.  Brooker,  Torrington. 
Charles  R.  Baldwin,  Waterbury. 

DELAWARE. 

Charles  F.  Richards,  Georgetown. 
William  Saulsbury,  Dover. 

FLORIDA. 

Dudley  W.  Adams,  Tangerine. 
Jesse  T.  Bernard,  Tallahasse. 

GEORGIA. 

James  Longstreet,  Gainesville. 
John  W.  Clark,  Augusta. 

IDAHO. 

A.  J.  Crook,  Hailey. 
John  M.  Burke,  Wardner. 

ILLINOIS. 

La  Fayette  Funk,  Shirley. 
De  Witt  Smith,  Springfield. 

INDIANA. 

William  E.  McLean,  Terre  Haute. 
Charles  M.  Travis,  Crawfordsville. 

IOWA. 

Charles  N.  Whiting,  Whiting. 
John  Hayes,  Red  Oak. 

KANSAS. 

M.  D.  Henry,  Independence. 
Frank -W.  Lanyon,  Pittsburg. 

KENTUCKY. 

David  N.  Comingore,  Covington. 
John  S.  Morris,  Louisiville. 


CELEBRATION  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA. 


153 


LOUISIANA. 

Commissioners.  Alternates. 

Davidson  B.  Penn,  Newelton.  Alphonse  Le  Due,  New  Orleans. 

Thomas  J.  Woodward,  New  Orleans.  P.  J.  McMahon,  Tangipahoa. 


Augustus  R.  Bixby,  Skowhegan. 
William  G.  Davis,  Portland. 


James  Hodges,  Baltimore. 
Lloyd  Lowndes,  Cumberland. 


Francis  W.  Breed,  Lynn. 
Thomas  E.  Proctor,  Boston. 


M.  Henry  Lane,  Kalamazoo. 
George  H.  Barbour,  Detroit. 


H.  B.  Moore,  Duluth. 

Orson  V.  Tousley,  Minneapolis. 


Joseph  M.  Bynum,  Rienzi. 
Robert  L.  Saunders,  Jackson. 


Thomas  B.  Bullene,  Kansas  City. 
Charles  H.  Jones,  St.  Louis. 


MAINE. 

James  A.  Boardman,  Bangor. 
Clark  S.  Edwards,  Bethel. 

MARYLAND. 

George  M.  Upshur,  Snow  Hill. 
Daniel  E.  Conkling,  Baltimore. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

George  P.  Ladd,  Spencer. 

Chas.  E.  Adams,  Lowell. 

^ 

MICHIGAN. 

Ernest  B.  Fisher,  Grand  Rapids. 
L.  D.  Norris,  Grand  Rapids. 

MINNESOTA. 

Thomas  C.  Kurtz,  Moorhead. 
Muret  N.  Leland,  Wells. 

MISSISSIPPI. 

Fred  W.  Collins,  Summit. 
Joseph  H.  Brinker,  West  Point. 

MISSOURI. 

O.  H.  Picher,  Joplin. 

R.  L.  McDonald,  St.  Joseph. 


MONTANA. 

Lewis  H.  Hershfield,  Helena.  Benjamin  F.  White,  Dillon. 

Ar mislead  H.  Mitchell,  Deer  Lodge  City.   Timothy  E.  Collins,  Great  Falls. 


Euclid  Martin,  Omaha. 
Albert  G.  Scott,  Kearney. 


James  W.  Haines,  Genoa. 
George  Russell,  Elko. 


Walter  Aiken,  Franklin. 

Charles  D.  McDuffie,  Manchester. 


William  J.  Sewell,  Camden. 
Thomas  Smith,  Newark. 


NEBRASKA. 

William  L.  May,  Fremont. 
John  Lauterbach,  Fairbury. 

NEVADA 

Enoch  Strother,  Virginia  City. 
Richard  Ryland,  Reno. 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

George  VanDyke,  Lancaster. 
Frank  E.  Kaley,  Milford. 

NEW  JERSEY. 

Frederick  S.  Fish,  Newark. 
Edwin  A.  Stevens,  Hoboken. 


154 


CELEBRATION  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA. 


Commissioners. 

Chauncey  M.  Depew,  New  York. 
John  Boyd  Thacher,  Albany. 


NEW  YORK. 

Alternates. 

James  H.  Breslin,  New  York. 
James  Roosevelt,  Hyde  Park. 


NORTH  CAROLINA. 

Alexander  B.  Andrews,  Raleigh.  Elias  Carr,  Old  Sparta. 

Thomas  B.  Keogh,  Greensboro.  G.  A.  Bingham,  Salisbury. 


H.  P.  Rucker,  Grand  Forks. 
Martin  Ryan,  Fargo. 


Harvey  P.  Platt,  Toledo. 
William  Ritchie,  Hamilton. 


Henry  Kippel,  Jacksonville. 
Martin  Wilkins,  Eugene  City 


NORTH  DAKOTA. 

Charles  H.  Stanley,  Steele. 
Peter  Cameron,  Tyner. 

OHIO. 

Lucius  C.  Cron,  Piqua. 
Adolph  Pluemer,  Cincinnati. 

OREGON. 

J.  L.  Morrow,  Heppner. 
W.  T.  Wright,  Union. 


PENNSYLVANIA. 

R.  Bruce  Ricketts,  Wilkesbarre.  G.  A.  Macbeth,  Pittsburg. 

John  W.  Woodside,  Philadelphia.  John  L.  Hallock,  Erie. 


Lyman  B.  Goff,  Pawtucket. 
Gardiner  C.  Sims,  Providence. 


A.  P.  Butler,  Columbia. 
John  R.  Cochran,  Anderson. 


Merritt  H.  Day,  Rapid  City. 
William  Mclntyre,  Watertown. 


Louis  T.  Baxter,  Nashville. 
Thomas  L.  Williams,  Knoxville. 


Archelaus  M.  Cochran,  Dallas. 
John  T.  Dickinson,  Austin. 


RHODE  ISLAND. 

Jeffrey  Hazard,  Providence. 
Lorillard  Spencer,  Newport. 

SOUTH   CAROLINA. 

E.  L.  Roche,  Charleston. 
J.  W.  Tindell,  Sumter. 

SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

S.  A.  Ramsey,  Woonsocket. 
L.  S.  Bullard.  Pierre. 

TENNESSEE. 

Rush  Strong,  Nashville. 
A.  B.  Hurt,  Chattanooga. 

TEXAS. 

Lock  McDaniel,  Anderson. 
Henry  B.  Andrews,  San  Antonio. 


VERMONT. 

Henry  H.  Mclntyre,  West  Randolph.          Aldace  F.  Walker,  Rutland. 
Bradley  B.  Smalley,  Burlington.  Hiram  Atkins,  Montpelier. 


Virginius  D.  Groner,  Norfolk. 
John  T.  Harris,  Harrisonburg. 


VIRGINIA. 

Charles  A.  Heermans,  Christiansburg. 
Alexander  McDonald,  Lynchburg. 


CELEBRATION  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA.  155 

WASHINGTON. 
Commissioners.  Alternates. 

Henry  Drum,  Tacoma.  Geo.  F.  Cummin,  Cheney. 

Charles  B.  Hopkins,  Spokane  Falls.  Clarence  B.  Bagley,  Seattle. 

WEST  VIRGINIA. 

James  D.  Butt,  Harper's  Ferry.  John  Corcoran,  Wheeling. 

J.  W.  St.  Clair,  Fayetteville.  Wellington  Vrooman,  Parkersourg. 

WISCONSIN. 

Philip  Allen,  Jr.,  Mineral  Point.  David  W.  Curtis,  Fort  Atkinson. 

John  N.  Coburn,  La  Crosse.  Myron  Reed,  Superior. 

WYOMING. 

Asahel  C.  Beckwith,  Evanston,  Asa  S.  Mercer,  Cheyenne, 

Henry  G.  Hay,  Cheyenne.  John  J.  McCormick,  Sheridan. 

Commissioners  of  the  Territories. 

ALASKA. 

Edward  de  Groff,  Sitka.  Carl  Spuhn,  Killisnoo. 

Louis  L.  Williams,  Juneau.  N.  A.  Fuller,  Juneau. 

ARIZONA. 

George  F.  Coats,  Phoenix.  W.  L.  Van  Horn,  Flagstaff. 

W.  K.  Meade,  Tombstone.  Herbert  H.  Logan,  Phcenix. 

NEW  MEXICO. 

Thomas  C.  Gutierres,  Albuquerque.  Louis  C.  Tetard,  East  Las  Vegas. 

Richard  Mansfield  White,  Hermosa.  Charles  B.  Eddy,  Eddy. 

OKLAHOMA. 

Othniel  Beeson,  Reno  City.  John  Wallace,  Oklahoma  City. 

Frank  B.  Gammon,  Guthrie.  Joseph  W.  McNeal,  Guthrie. 

UTAH. 

Frederick  J.  Kiesel,  Ogden.  William  M.  Ferry,  Park  City. 

Patrick  H.  Lannon,  Salt  Lake  City.  Charles  Crane,  Kanosh. 

\ 

Executive  Committee  of  World's  Columbian  Commission. 

PRESIDENT,  T.  W.  PALMER,  Michigan,  Chairman. 
JAMES  A.  McKENZiE,  Kentucky,  Vice-Chairman. 
JNO.  T.  DICKINSON,  Texas,  Secretary. 

M.  L.  MCDONALD,  Commissioner-at-Large. 
R.  W.  FURNAS,  Commissioner-at-Large. 

HENRY  EXALL,  Commissioner-at-Large. 

P.  A.  B.  WIDENER,  Commissioner-at-Large. 


156 


CELEBRATION  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA. 


John  T.  Harris,  Virginia, 
B.  B.  Smalley,  Vermont, 
John  Boyd  Thacher,  New  York, 
Euclid  Martin,  Nebraska, 
Adlai  T.  Ewing,  Illinois, 
H.  P.  Platt,  Ohio, 
T.  L.  Williams,  Tennessee, 
R.  L.  Saunders,  Mississippi, 
R.  E.  Goodell,  Colorado, 


William  J.  Sewell,  New  Jersey, 

E.  B.  Martindale,  Indiana, 

Francis  W.  Breed,  Massachusetts, 

James  D.  Butt,  West  Virginia, 

William  F.  King,  Iowa, 

L.  McLaws,  Georgia, 

C.  F.  A.  Bielby,  Florida, 

L.  H.  Hershfield,  Montana, 

A.  T.  Britton,  District  of  Columbia. 


World's  Columbian  Exposition  Association. 

GEORGE  R.  DAVIS,  Director-General. 

HARLOW  N.  HIGINBOTHAM,  President. 

FERD.  W.  PECK,  First  Vice-President 

ROBERT  A.  WALLER,  Second  Vice-President. 
HOWARD  O.  EDMONDS,  Secretary. 

ANTHONY  F.  SEEBERGER,  Treasurer. 
WILLIAM  K.  ACKERMAN,  Auditor. 
WILLIAM  K.  CARLISLE,  Attorney, 

D.  H.  BURNHAM,  Chief  of  Construction. 
E.  E.  JAYCOX,  Traffic  Manager. 


William  T.  Baker, 
Thomas  G.  Bryan, 
Benjamin  Butterworth, 
William  J.  Chalmers, 
Charles  H.  Chappell, 
Arthur  Dixon, 
George  P.  Englehard, 
Charles  Henrotin, 
Charles  L.  Hutchinson, 
William  D.  Kerfoot, 
Milton  W.  Kirk, 
Theis  J.  Lefens, 
Adolph  Nathan, 
John  J.  P.  Odell, 
Eugene  S.  Pike, 
Alexander  H.  Revell, 
A.  M.  Rothschild, 
Charles  H.  Schwab, 
Henry  B.  Stone, 
Edwin  Walker, 
Hempstead  Washburne, 
Frederick  S.  Winston, 


Directors. 

C.  K.  C.  Billings, 
Edward  B.  Butler, 
Isaac  N.  Camp, 
Robert  C.  Clowry, 
George  R.  Davis, 
James  W.  Ellsworth, 
Lyman  J.  Gage, 
H.  N.  Higinbotham, 
Elbridge  G.  Keith, 
William  P.  Ketcham, 
Edward  F.  Lawrence, 
Andrew  McNally, 
Robert  Nelson, 
Ferd.  W.  Peck, 
Washington  Porter, 
Edward  P.  Ripley, 
George  Schneider, 
Paul  O.  Stensland, 
Charles  H.  Wacker, 
Robert  A.  Waller, 
John  C.  Welling. 
G.  H.  Wheeler, 

Charles  T.  Yerkes. 


CELEBRATION  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA.  157 

Executive  Committee  of  Exposition  Association. 

HARLOW  N.  HIGINBOTHAM,  President. 

FERD.  W.  PECK,  First  Vice-President. 

ROBERT  A.  WALLER,  Second  Vice-President. 
HENRY  B.  STONE,  EDWIN  WALKER, 

WILLIAM  D.  KERFOOT,  CHARLES  H.  SCHWAB, 

ALEXANDER  H.  REVELL,  EDWARD  P.  RIPLEY, 

GEORGE  R.  DAVIS,  CHARLES  L.  HUTCHINSON, 

JAMES  W.  ELLSWORTH,  ROBERT  C.  CLOWRY, 

JOHN  J.  P.  ODELL,  EDWARD  B.  BUTLER, 

THIES  J.  LEFENS,  LYMAN  J.  GAGE, 

WILLIAM  T.  BAKER. 

Chairmen  of  Standing  Committees. 

Finance — Ferd.  W.  Peck.  Mines,    Mining    and   Fish— Charles    H. 

Apiculture— William  D.  Kerfoot.  Schwab. 

Press  and  Printing — Alexander  H.  Revell;  Transportation — Edward  P.  Ripley. 

R.  J.  Murphy,  secretary.  Liberal  Arts — James  W.  Ellsworth. 

Fine  Arts — Charles  L.  Hutchinson.  Manufactures  and  Machinery — John   J.  P. 

Electricity,  Electrical  and  Pnetimatic  Ap-  Odell. 

pliances — Robert  C.  Clowry.  Ways  and  Means — Edward    B.   Butler  ; 

Foreign  Exhibits — Thies  J.  Lefens  ;  R.  L.  Samuel  A.  Crawford,  secretary. 

Fearn,  secretary.  Special  Committee  on  Ceremonies — Edward 

Legislation — Edwin  Walker.  F.  Lawrence;  E.  C.  Gulp,  secretary. 

/ 

Department  Chiefs. 

Agriculture — William  I.  Buchanan.  Horticulture — John  M.  Samuels. 

Live  Stock — E.  W.  Cottrell.  Fish  and  Fisheries — John  W.  Collins. 

Mines  and  Mining — Frederick  J.  V.  Skiff.  Machinery — Lewis  W.  Robinson . 

Transportation — Willard  A.  Smith.  Manufactures — James  Allison. 

Electricity — John  P.  Barrett,  Fine  Arts — Halsey  C.  Ives. 

Liberal  Arts — Selim  H.  Peabody.  Ethnology — Frederick  W.  Putnam. 

Forestry — Chief  Buchanan,  of  the  Depart-  Publicity  and  Promotion — Moses  P.  Handy. 

ment  of  Agriculture.  Secretary  of  Installation — Joseph  Hirst. 
Foreign  Affairs — Walter  Fearn. 

Appropriations  by  the  Government,  States  and  Territories. 

The  greatest  interest  shown  by  foreign  nations  in  the  Exposition  was 
emulated  on  a  broad  scale  by  the  United  States  Government  and  the 
States  and  Territories  of  the  Union.  The  United  States  Government 
erected  a  grand  structure  in  and  around  which  to  display  such  articles 
and  materials  as  illustrate  the  function  and  administrative  faculty  of  the 
government  in  time  of  peace,  and  its  resources  as  a  war  power,  tending 
to  demonstrate  the  nature  of  our  institutions  and  their  adaptation  to  the 
wants  of  the  people.  For  this  purpose  and  for  other  necessary  expenses 
Congress  appropriated  $1,500,000. 


158 


CELEBRATION  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA. 


The  various  States  and  Territories  also  made  appropriations  in  amounts 
ranging  from  $10,000  to  $800,000,  the  latter  sum  being  contributed  by 
the  State  of  Illinois  in  consideration  of  the  fact  that  her  metropolis  was 
the  home  of  the  Fair.  The  Legislatures  of  some  of  the  States  did  not 
make  appropriations,  but  from  some  of  these  States  large  amounts  were 
furnished  by  voluntary  subscriptions.  The  voluntary  gifts  of  some  of 


HARLOW    N.    HIGINBOTHAM. 

the  States  exceeded  their  appropriations,  while  in  those  States  and  Terri- 
tories from  which  there  were  few  voluntary  subscriptions  the  Legislative 
appropriations  were  large. 

The  great  Exposition  was  the  affair  of  the  whole  country,  and  every 
part  of  the  country  was  represented.  This  points  to  a  patriotic  pride 
felt  by  all  classes  in  our  nation  and  its  progress.  While  there  was  a 
friendly  rivalry  between  the  various  States,  and  some  showed  larger 


CELEBRATION  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA.  159 

exnioits  than  others,  no  commonwealth  appeared  to  a  disadvantage. 
The  glory  of  the  entire  nation  blossomed  out  before  the  admiring  eyes 
of  the  myriads  who  thronged  the  spacious  buildings  and  avenues  of  the 
"  White  City  "  by  the  waters  of  Lake  Michigan. 

Foreign  Nations  at  the  Exposition. 

Equally  gratifying  was  the  enthusiasm  shown  by  foreign  nations  in 
the  great  celebration.  From  Europe  and  Asia  and  the  Islands  of  the  Sea 


GEORGE    R.    DAVIS. 


the  richest  products  were  sent  to  indicate  the  good  will  felt  for  the 
United  States  and  to  illustrate  the  customs,  history  and  achievements  of 
the  various  peoples  of  the  globe.  Forty-nine  nations  and  tl  irty-eight 
colonies  and  provinces  were  among  the  exhibitors.  Some  of  these  made 
large  appropriations  of  money  as  follows: — France,  $733,000;  Brazil, 
$600,000 ;  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies,  $892,500 ;  Germany,  $690, 
OOO  ;  Argentine  Republic,  $100,000  ;  Peru,  $140,000.  These  were  some 


160 


CELEBRATION  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA. 


of  the  larger  amounts,  and  the  grand  total  of  appropriations  by  foreign 
nations  was  $5,379,505.  These  figures  are  eloquent;  they  tell  more 
plainly  than  words  can  the  great  interest  awakened  by  the  celebration  at 
Chicago. 

The  World's  Congress  Auxiliary. 

The  objects  of  this  organization  were  to  provide  for  the  proper  pre- 
sentation of  the  world's  intellectual  and  moral  progress,  with  the  assist- 


MOSES    P.    HANDY. 


ance  of  the  leaders  in  all  the  chief  departments  of  human  achievement; 
to  provide  places  of  meeting  and  other  facilities  for  kindred  organizations 
to  unite  in  congresses  in  Chicago  during  the  Exposition  season,  for  the 
consideration  of  questions  in  their  respective  departments ;  to  conduct 
popular  congresses  for  presenting  summaries  of  the  progress  made  and 
the  most  important  results  attained  in  the  several  departments  of  civil- 
ized life  ;  to  provide  for  the  proper  publication  of  the  congress  proceed- 


CELEBRATION  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA.  161 

ings  as  the  most  valuable  and  enduring  memorial  of  the  Exposition ; 
and  to  bring  all  the  departments  of  human  progress  into  harmonious 
relation  in  the  Exposition. 

Accordingly  a  central  organization  was  formed  which  was  authorized 
for  the  Exposition  Directory  and  recognized  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment ;  a  local  committee  of  arrangements  for  each  congress ;  an 
advisory  council  for  each  committee ;  general  honorary  and  correspond- 
ing members  and  committees  of  co-operation  appointed  by  particular 
organizations  and  recognized  by  the  Auxiliary  as  representatives  of  socie- 
ties or  institutions. 

The  Woman's  Branch  of  the  Auxiliary  consisted  of  committees  of 
women  appointed  to  co-operate  with  the  corresponding  committees  of 
men  in  making  arrangements  for  congresses  appropriate  for  the  partici- 
pation of  women. 

Great  Variety  of  Exhibits. 

The  exhibits  at  the  Exposition  covered  a  wider  range  and  were  far 
more  numerous  than  were  ever  before  gathered  together.  The  whole 
world  was  interested  and  all  the  Nations  of  the  earth  participated  with 
the  grandest  and  most  creditable  characteristic  exhibits  of  their  arts, 
sciences,  natural  resources,  customs,  condition  and  progress  of  their 
people.  From  far-away  India,  Burmah,  Siam,  China,  Japan,  Persia, 
Islands  of  the  Pacific,  Australia,  Tasmania,  Egypt,  Turkey  and  the 
strange  lands  of  mysterious  and  almost  unknown  Africa  came  attractions 
of  interesting  character.  All  the  European  nations  displayed  great 
interest  in  the  Exposition,  and  all  gave  assurances  of  their  unqualified 
support  and  co-operation.  Their  finest  collections  of  art  were  gathered 
here,  and  each  country  displayed  in  the  most  complete  manner  its  varied 
resources.  All  of  the  countries  of  South  and  Central  America  with 
Mexico  made  the  most  elaborate  preparation  for  an  extensive  exhibition 
of  their  splendid  resources  and  products. 

Millions  of  money  were  expended  by  these  foreign  countries,  and  the 
beauty  of  the  Exposition  was  enhanced  thereby  to  a  greater  degree. 
The  plans  of  many  of  these  countries  included  the  construction  ot 
buildings  of  the  finest  character  in  which  to  make  headquarters.  The 
style  of  architecture  was  characteristic  of  the  country  represented.  It 
will  thus  be  seen  that  in  addition  to  the  beautiful  buildings  erected  by  the 
Exposition  there  was  also  a  grand  display  of  architecture  from  every 
part  of  the  world,  making  the  variety  of  design  so  extensive  as  to  be 
bewildering  in  its  outlines. 

11 


CHAPTER   VII. 
Board  of  Lady  Managers  and  Its  World 

NONE  were   more  active  than  women  in  making  the  World's 
Columbian  Exposition  worthy  of  the  great  event  it  commem- 
orates.    The  undertaking  was  so  vast  that  it  was  necessary  to 
combine  all   available  agencies   in   united    and    harmonious 
action  toward  one  result.     It  was  foreseen  that  the  women  of  our  coun- 
try could  do  a  work  which  could  be  performed  by  no  others,  and  in  co- 
operation with  the  National  Commission  and  the  Exposition  Association 
would  form  a  branch  of  service  of  great  value. 

The  women  throughout  the  coyntry  having  entered  enthusiastically 
into  the  project  of  a  World's  Fair  were  ready  to  organize  and  render 
effective  service.  As  soon  as  the  opportunity  was  given  a  spontaneous 
response  came  from  all  the  States  and  Territories.  By  unanimous  con- 
sent it  was  agreed  that  woman  should  have  her  own  department  in  the 
Exposition,  should  erect  a  building,  make  exhibits,  and  participate  in 
the  management  of  the  enterprise.  The  interests  of  the  women  of 
America  and  other  countries  were  placed  in  excellent  hands,  and  no 
part  of  the  management  of  the  Exposition  was  conducted  with  greater 
zeal,  more  wisely,  with  more  patient  attention  to  details,  or  more  effec- 
tively. A  woman  was  the  architect  of  the  Woman's  Building,  and  it  is 
worthy  of  note  that  the  erection  of  this  building  was  commenced  before 
that  of  any  other  on  the  Exhibition  grounds. 

There  seemed  to  be  a  bold  resolve  to  place  the  Woman's  Department 
at  the  front,  while  a  feeling  of  pride  animated  the  managers,  who  repre- 
sented the  intelligence,  culture,  wealth  and  refinement  of  the  land.  No 
such  exhibition  of  woman's  influence  has  ever  before  been  seen.  Hav- 
ing within  the  last  generation  entered  successfully  many  of  the  pursuits 
which  formerly  were  carried  on  by  men  exclusively  she  now  participates 
in  the  grandest  event  of  the  age,  and  crowns  herself  with  a  glory  as 
well  deserved  as  it  is  bright. 

Congress  Creates  the  Board. 

The  Act  of  Congress  authorizing  the  holding  of  the  Exposition  also 
created  a  Board  of  Lady  Managers,  consisting  of  two  members  with 
alternates  from  every  State  and  Territory,  eight  members  and  alternates 

at-large,  and  nine  from  the  City  of  Chicago.     Recognizing  as  its  first 
162 


BOARD  OF  LADY  MANAGERS  AND  ITS  WORK.  163 

duty,  the  promotion  of  the  general  interests  of  the  Exposition,  the  Board 
rendered  valuable  assistance  to  the  National  Commissioners,  in  influen- 
cing favorable  State  legislation,  in  arousing  enthusiasm  and  in  formula- 
ting plans  for  the  development  of  local  resources.  In  addition,  it  held  the 
guardianship  of  women's  special  interests.  There  was  no  separate  exhibit 
of  women's  work,  the  Board  having  decided  that  to  be  inexpedient ;  but 
in  the  Woman's  Building,  which  was  designed  for  administrative  and 
other  purposes,  was  a  showing  of  such  things  as  women  are  particularly 
and  vitally  interested  in,  and  which  did  not  properly  belong  to  the  gen- 
eral competitive  classification.  Every  department  of  the  entire  Exposi- 
tion was  as  open  to  women  as  to  men,  and  the  Act  of  Congress  gave  the 
Board  the  right  to  representation  on  all  juries  of  award  where  women's 
work  was  concerned. 

A  Novel  Feature  of  the  Exposition. 

The  Lady  Managers  invited  the  women  of  all  countries  to  participate 
in  the  Exposition.  Numerous  foreign  committees,  comprised  of  women? 
were  formed  and  brou  ght  into  successful  co-operation  with  the  offiical  Board. 

This  Board  instituted  in  connection  with  the  model  Hospital  of 
the  Woman's  Building,  a  Department  of  Public  Comfort,  which  became 
a  novel  and  excellent  feature  of  the  Exposition.  This  was  intended  to 
be  supplementary  to  the  Hospital,  and  to  provide  for  such  cases  of  slight 
illness  or  accidents  as  do  not  require  regular  medical  attendance.  The 
main  room  was  in  the  Woman's  Building,  but  branch  rooms  were  estab- 
lished in  every  division  of  the  Exposition,  and  all  of  them  were  under 
the  supervision  of  the  Lady  Managers. 

The  reader  will  be  interested  here  in  some  extracts  from  one  of  the 
leaflets  sent  out  by  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers  at  the  beginning  of  its 
operations.  These  are  valuable  as  showing  the  high  aim  of  the  mana- 
gers and  their  comprehensive  plans.  They  did  not  look  upon  the  Expo- 
sition as  a  commercial  enterprise  for  advertising  wares.  It  was  to  be  a 
great  celebration  of  art  and  industry,  science  and  religion,  material 
resources  and  intellectual  achievements.  Animated  by  noble  purposes 
they  entered  upon  their  work,  and  the  world  has  admired  the  success 
with  which  it  was  performed.  Their  statement  was  as  follows  : 

"  The  Board  wishes  to  mark  the  first  participation  of  women  in  an 
important  national  enterprise,  by  preparing  an  object  lesson  to  show 
their  progress  made  in  every  country  of  the  world,  during  the  century  in 
which  educational,  and  other  priviledges  have  been  granted  them,  and 
to  show  the  increased  usefulness  that  has  resulted  from  the  enlargement 
of  their  opportunities. 


MAP    OF   THE    CITY    OF    CHICAGO, 


164 


BOARD  OF  LADY  MANAGERS  AND  ITS  WORK.  165 

"  It  is  of  the  first  importance  that  such  a  representative  collection  be 
secured  from  every  country  as  will  give  an  adequate  idea  of  the  extent 
and  value  of  what  is  being  done  by  women  in  the  arts,  sciences,  and 
industries.  We  shall  thus  aim  to  show  to  the  breadwinners,  who  are 
fighting  unaided  the  battle  of  life,  the  new  avenues  of  employment  that 
are  constantly  being  opened  to  women,  and  in  which  of  these  their 
work  will  be  of  the  most  distinct  value  by  reason  of  their  natural  adapt- 
ability, sensative  and  artistic  temperaments,  and  individual  tastes ;  what 
education  will  best  enable  them  to  enjoy  the  wider  opportunities  await- 
ing them,  and  make  their  work  of  the  greatest  worth,  not  only  to  them- 
selves but  to  the  world. 

"  The  Board  of  Lady  Managers,  therefore,  invite  the  women  of  all 
countries  to  participate  in  this  great  exhibit  of  woman's  work,  to  the  end 
that  it  may  be  made  not  only  national  but  universal,  and  that  all  may 
profit  by  a  free  comparison  of  methods,  agencies  and  results. 

"  The  Board  has  decided  that  in  the  general  Exposition  buildings, 
where  the  competitive  exhibits  will  be  placed,  it  will  not  separate  the 
exhibits  of  woman's  work  from  that  of  men,  for  the  reason  that  as 
women  are  working  side  by  side  with  men  in  all  the  factories  of  the  world, 
it  would  be  practically  impossible,  in  most  cases,  to  divide  the  finished 
result  of  their  combined  work  ;  nor  would  women  be  satisfied  with  prizes 
unless  they  were  awarded  without  distinction  as  to  sex,  and  as  the 
result  of  fair  competition  with  the  best  work  shown.  They  are  striving 
for  excellence,  and  desire  recognition  only  for  demonstrated  merit.  In 
order,  however,  that  the  enormous  amount  of  work  being  done  by 
women  may  be  appreciated,  a  tabulated  statement  will  be  procured  and 
shown  with  every  exhibit,  stating  the  proportion  of  woman's  work  that 

enters  into  it. 

Women  on  the  Juries  of  Awards. 

"  The  Board  of  Lady  Managers  has  been  granted  by  Act  of  Congress, 
the  great  and  unusual  privilege  of  appointing  members  of  each  jury 
to  award  prizes  for  articles  into  which  women's  work  enters.  The  num- 
ber of  women  on  each  jury  will  be  proportioned  to  the  amount  of  work 
done  by  women  in  the  corresponding  department  of  classification.  The 
statement  as  to  the  amount  of  their  work  will  therefore  be  of  double 
significance,  for  in  addition  to  the  impressive  showing  of  how  large  a 
proportion  of  the  heavy  labor  of  the  world  is  being  performed  by  the 
weaker  sex,  it  will  also  determine  the  amount  of  jury  representation  to 
which  the  Board  is  entitled. 

"  Besides  the  foregoing  extensive  exhibit,  women  will  have  another 
opportunity  of  displaying  work  of  superior  excellence  in  a  very  advan- 


166  BOARD  OF  LADY  MANAGERS  AND  ITS  WORK. 

tageous  way,  in  the  Woman's  Building,  over  which  the  Board  of  Lady 
Managers  will  exercise  complete  control. 

"  Commissions  of  women  organized  in  all  countries,  as  auxiliaries  to 
the  Board  of  Lady  Managers,  will  be  asked  to  recommend  objects 
of  special  excellence  produced  by  women,  and  producers  of  such  success- 
ful work  will  be  invited  to  place  specimens  in  the  gallery  of  the  Woman's 
Building. 

"  In  order  to  disprove  the  frequently  made  statement  that  women  do 
not  possess  creative  minds,  it  is  desired  that  we  show  (what  archaeolo- 
gists concede  to  be  true)  that  the  industrial  arts  among  all  primitive 
peoples,  were  almost  exclusively  invented  and  carried  on  by  women. 

"  When  these  arts  became  profitable  they  were  appropriated  by  men. 
It  is  desirable,  therefore,  that  we  show  the  chronological  history  of  the 
origin,  development  and  progress  of  the  industries  carried  on  by  women 
from  the  earliest  time  down  to  the  present  day. 

Woman's  Best  Work. 

"Not  only  has  woman  become  an  immense,  although  generally 
unrecognized  factor  in  the  industrial  world,  but  hers  being  essentially  the 
arts  of  peace  and  progress,  her  best  work  is  shown  in  the  numberless 
charitable,  reformatory,  educational  and  other  beneficent  institutions, 
which  she  has  had  the  courage  and  ideality  to  establish  for  the 
alleviation  of  suffering,  for  the  correction  of  many  forms  of  social 
injustice  and  neglect,  and  for  the  reformation  of  long  established 
wrongs. 

"All  organizations  of  women  must  be  impressed  with  the  necessity  of 
making  an  effective  showing  of  the  noble  work  which  each  is  carrying 
on.  We  especially  desire  to  have  represented,  in  the  rooms  reserved  for 
that  purpose,  the  educational  work  originated  or  carried  on  by  women, 
from  the  kindergarten  organizations  up  to  the  highest  branches  of  educa- 
tion, including  all  schools  of  applied  science  and  art,  such  as  training 
schools  for  nurses,  manual  training,  industrial,  art  and  cooking  schools, 
domestic  economy,  sanitation,  etc.  When  not  practically  exhibited,  the 
work  of  all  such  organizations  should  be  shown  by  maps,  charts,  photo- 
graphs, relief  models,  etc.;  but  it  is  earnestly  hoped  that  one,  at  least, 
the  most  representative  institution  in  each  of  these  branches,  will  be 
shown  from  every  country,  in  order  that  a  comparison  may  be  made  of 
methods  and  results." 

Such  were  the  purposes  of  the  Ladies'  Board  of  Managers  at  the 
outset  and  such  the  view  they  took  of  the  work  placed  in  their  hands. 
When  the  matter  of  a  Ladies'  Board  was  brought  before  the  World's 


BOARD  OF  LADY  MANAGERS  AND  ITS  WORK. 


167 


Fair  Committee  of  Congress,  Mr.  Springer  of  Illinois  wrote  and 
inserted  the  clause  authorizing  the  creation  of  the  Board  of  Women,  and 
became  its  champion  in  the  committee  before  the  House,  where  it  met 
with  no  serious  objection.  This  was  a  recognition  of  woman  such  as 
she  had  never  received  before.  If  the  World's  Columbian  Commission 
were  to  carry  forward  its  vast  enterprise  and  furnish  an  Exposition  worthy 


MRS.    POTTER    PALMER. 

of  the  discovery  of  the  New  World,  Congress  deemed  it  essential  that 
the  Commission  should  have  the  hearty  co-operation  and  help  of  the 
women  of  the  country. 

The  Board  was  created  by  the  organic  law  of  Congress  and  is  the  first 
recognition  of  woman  in  this  country  by  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States.  They  have  been  allowed  to  appear  in  the  lobby  of  the  Capitol, 


1C3 


BOARD  OF  LADY  MANAGERS  AND  ITS  WORK. 


to  make  speeches  before  committees,  to  present  petitions,  to  hang  upon 
the  fringes  of  legislation  and  use  a  certain  personal  influence,  but  by  this 
action  of  Congress  they  have  been  placed  in  official  positions. 

With  this  authority  and  by  recommendation  of  members  of  Congress 
from  the  several  States  and  Territories,  the  Commissioners  appointed  the 
members  of  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers. 

Directory. 

Officers  of  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers. 

MRS.  POTTER  PALMER,  of  Chicago,  President. 
MRS.  RALPH  TRAUTMANN,  of  New  York,  First  Vice-President. 
MRS.  EDWIN  C.  BURLEIGH,  of  Maine,  Second  Vice-President. 
MRS.  CHARLES  PRICE,  of  North  Carolina,  Third  Vice-President. 
Miss  KATHARINE  L.  MINER,  of  Louisiana,  Fourth  Vice-President. 
MRS.  BERIAH  WILKINS,  of  the  District  of  Columbia, 

Fifth  Vice-President. 

MRS.  SUSAN  R.  ASHLEY,  of  Colorado,  Sixth  Vice-President. 
MRS.  FLORA  BEALL  GINTY,  of  Wisconsin,  Seventh  Vice-President. 
MRS.  MARGARET  BLAINE  SALISBURY,  of  Utah, 

Eighth  Vice-President. 
MRS.  RUSSELL  B.  HARRISON,  of  Montana. 

Vice-President-at-Large. 

MRS.  SUSAN  GALE  COOK,  of  Tennessee,  Secretary. 

Appointed  by  the  President — From  Chicago. 


Lady  Managers. 
Mrs.  Potter  Palmer. 
Mrs.  Walter  Q.  Gresham. 
Mrs.  J.  S.  Lewis. 
VIrs.  M.  A.  Mulligan. 
Miss  Frances  Dickinson. 
Mrs.  M.  R.  M.  Wallace. 
Mrs.  Myron  B.  Bradell. 
Mrs.  Clara  M.  Doolittle. 
Mrs.  Matilda  R.  Carse. 


Lady  Alternates. 
Miss  Sara  T.  Hallowell. 
Mrs.  Sol.  Thatcher,  Jr. 
Miss  Julia  B.  Shattuck. 
Mrs.  Anna  C.  Meyers. 
Mrs.  A.  H.  TenEyck. 
Mrs.  M.  J.  Sandes. 
Mrs.  Leander  Stone. 
Mrs.  Gen.  Arthur  H.  Chetlain. 
Miss  Frances  Willard. 


Appointed  at  Large. 


Mrs.  D.  F.  Verdenal, 

New  York  City. 
Mrs.  Mary  Cecil  Cantrill, 

Georgetown,  Kentucky. 
Miss  Mary  S.  Lockwood, 

Washington,  D.  C. 
Mrs.  John  J.  Bagley, 

Detroit,  Michigan. 
Miss  Ellen  A.  Ford, 

New  York  City. 


Mrs.  Ben  C.  Truman, 

Los  Angeles,  California. 
Mrs.  Nancy  Houston  Banks, 

Morganfield,  Kentucky. 
Mrs.  James  B.  Stone, 

Worcester,  Massachusetts 
Mrs.  Schuyler  Colfax, 

South  Bend,  Indiana. 
Mrs.  Helen  A.  Peck, 

Kansas  City,  Missouri. 


BOARD  OF  LADY  MANAGERS  AND  ITS  WORK.  169 

Lady  Managers.  Lady  A  Itet  nates. 

Mrs.  Mary  S.  Harrison,  Miss  Caroline  E.  Dennis, 

Washington,  D.  C.  Auburn,  New  York. 

Mrs.  Ida  A.  Elkins  Tyler,  Mrs.  Geo.  R.  Yarrow, 

Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 

Mrs.  Rosine  Ryan,  Mrs.  L.  C.  Baxter, 

Austin,  Texas.  Navasota,  Texas. 

Appointed  from  the  States. 

ALABAMA. 

Miss  Hattie  Toney  Hundley,  Miss  Sallie  Talula  Smith, 

Mooresville,  Birmingham. 

Mrs.  AnnaM.  Fosdick,  Mobile.  Mrs.  Louise  L.  Werth,  Montgomery. 

ARKANSAS. 

Mrs.  James  P.  Eagle,  Little  Rock.  Mrs.  John  H.  Rogers,  Fort  Smith. 

Mrs.  R.  A.  Edgerton,  Little  Rock.  Mrs.  William  B.  Empie,  Newport. 

CALIFORNIA. 

Mrs.  Parthenia  P.  Rue,  Santa  Rosa.  Mrs.  Theresa  Fair,  San  Francisco. 

Mrs.  James  R.  Deane,  San  Francisco.          Mrs.  Walter  Turnbull,  San  Francisco. 

COLORADO. 

Miss  Mary  A.  Samson,       eulo.  Mrs.  Robert  J.  Coleman,  Buena  Vista. 

Mrs.  E.  M.  Ashley,  Denver.  Mrs.  M.  D.  Thatcher,  Pueblo. 

CONNECTICUT. 

Miss  Frances  S.  Ives,  New  Haven.  Mrs.  Amelia  B.  Hinman,  Stevenson. 

Mrs.  Isabella  Beecher  Hooker,  Mrs.  Virginia  T.  Smith,  Hartford. 

Hartford. 

DELAWARE. 

Mrs.  Mary  Richards  Kinder,  Milford.          Mrs.  Mary  E.  Torbert,  Milford. 
Miss  Ida  M.  Ball,  Wilmington.  Mrs.  Amelia  E.  Armstrong,  Newar^ 

FLORIDA. 

Mrs.  M.  C.  Bell,  Gainesville.  Mrs.  Chloe  M.  Reed,  So.  Jacksonville. 

Miss  E.  Nellie  Beck,  Tampa.  Mrs.  H.  K.  Ingram,  Jacksonville. 

GEORGIA. 

Mrs.W.  H.  Felton,  Centerville.  Miss  Meta  T.  McLaws,  Augusta. 

Mrs.  Chas.  H.  Olmstead,  Savannah.  Mrs.  Geo.  W.  Lamar,  Savannah. 

IDAHO. 

Mrs.  Anna  E.  M.  Farnum,  Post  Falls.          Mrs.  Louise  L.  Barton,  Moscow. 
Mrs.  Jos.  C.  Straughan,  Boise  City.  Mrs.  Ella  Ray  Miller,  Blackfoot. 

ILLINOIS. 

Mrs.  Richard  J.  Oglesby,  Elkhart.  Mrs.  Frank  W.  Gould,  Moline. 

Mrs.  Henry  M.  Shepard,  Chicago.  Mrs.  Isaac  N.  Phillips,  Bloomington. 

INDIANA. 

Miss  Wilhelmine  Reitz,  Evansville.  Miss  Sue  Ball,  Terre  Hautg. 

Mrs.  Virginia  C.  Meredith,  Cam-  Miss  Mary  H.  Krout,  Crawfordsville. 

bridge  City. 


170  BOARD  OF  LADY  MANAGERS  AND  ITS  WORK. 

Lady  Managers.  Lady  Alternates. 

IOWA. 

Mrs  Whitney  S.  Clark,  Des  Moines.  Mrs.  Ira  M.  Fredericks,  Council  Bluffs. 

Miss  Ora  Elizabeth  Miller,  Cedar  Miss  Mary  B.  Hancock,  Dubuque. 

Rapids. 

KANSAS. 

Mrs.  Jennie  S.  Mitchell,  Fort  Scott.  Mrs.  Sara  Blair  Lynch,  Leavenworth. 

Mrs.  Hester  A.  Hanback,  Topeka.  Mrs.  Jane  H.  Haynes,  Fort  Scott. 

KENTUCKY. 

Miss  Jean  W.  Faulkner,  Lancaster.  Miss  Sarah  F.  Holt,  Frankfort. 

Miss  Cora  D.  Payne,  Henderson.  Mrs.  Alice  B.  Castleman,  Louisville. 

LOUISIANA. 
Miss  Katherine  L.  Minor,  Houma.  Mrs.  Bowling  S.  Leathers, 

New  Orleans. 

Miss  Josephine  Shakespeare,  Mrs.  Belle  Hamilton  Perkins, 

New  Orleans.  New  Orleans. 

MAINE. 

Mrs.  Edwin  C.  Burleigh,  Augusta.  Mrs.  Sarah  H.  Bixby,  Skowhegan. 

Mrs.  L.  M.  N.  Stevens,  Portland.  Miss  Kate  Hutchins  Locke,  Bethel. 

MARYLAND. 

Mrs.  William  Reed,  Baltimore.  Mrs.  J.  Wilson  Patterson,  Baltimore. 

Mrs.  E.  S.  Thomson,  Mount  Savage.  Miss  Eloise  Roman,  Cumberland. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 
Mrs.  Rufus  S.  Frost,  Chelsea.  Mrs.  Alice  Freeman  Palmer, 

Cambridge. 
Mrs.  Jonas  H.  French,  Boston.  Miss  Mary  Crease  Sears,  Boston. 

MICHIGAN. 
Mrs.  Eliza  J.  Pendry  Howes,  Mrs.  Francis  P.  Burrows,  Kalamazoo. 

Battle  Creek. 
Mrs.  Sarah  S.  C.  Angell,  Ann  Arbor.  Miss  Anna  M.  Cutcheon,  Detroit. 

MINNESOTA. 

Mrs.  Francis  B.  Clarke,  St.  Paul.  Mrs.  P.  B.  Winston,  Minneapolis. 

Mrs.  H.  F.  Brown,  Minneapolis.  Mrs.  M.  M.  Williams,  Little  Falls. 

MISSISSIPPI. 

Mrs.  James  W.  Lee,  Aberdeen.  Mrs.  George  M.  Buchanan,  Holly 

Springs. 
Mrs.  John  M.  Stone,  Jackson.  Miss  Varina  Davis,  Beauvoir. 

MISSOURI. 

Miss  Phcebe  Cousins,  St.  Louis.  Miss  Patti  Moore,  Kansas  City. 

Miss  Lillian  Mason  Brown,  Mrs.  Annie  L.  Y.  Swart,  St.  Louis. 

Kirkwood. 


BOARD  OF  LADY  MANAGERS  AND  ITS  WORK.  171 

MONTANA. 

Lady  Managers.  Lady  Alternates. 

Mrs.  Eliza  Rickards,  Butte  City.  Mrs.  Frank  L.  Worden,  Missoula. 

Mrs.  Lily  Rosencrans  Toole,  Helena.          Mrs.  Mariam  D.  Cooper,  Bozeman. 

NEBRASKA. 

Mrs.  John  S.  Briggs,  Omaha.  Mrs.  M.  A.  B.  Martin,  Lincoln. 

Mrs.  E.  C.  Langworthy,  Seward.  Mrs.  Lana  A.  Bates,  Aurora. 

NEVADA. 

Miss  Eliza  M.  Russell,  Elko.  Miss  Mary  E.  Davies,  Genoa. 

Mrs.  Ellen  M.  Stevenson,  Carson  City.       Mrs.  M.  D.  Foley,  Reno. 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Mrs.  Mira  B.  F.  Ladd,  Lancaster.  Mrs.  Frank  H.  Daniell,  Franklin  Falls. 

Mrs.  Daniel  Hall,  Dover.  Miss  Ellen  J.  Cole,  Lake  Village. 

NEW  JERSEY. 

Miss  Mary  E.  Busselle,  Newark.  Mrs.  Amanda  M.  Smith,  Newark. 

Mrs.  Martha  B.  Stevens,  Hoboken. 

NEW  YORK. 
Mrs.  Ralph  Trautmann,  New  Mrs.  John  Pope,  New  York  City. 

York  City. 
Mrs.  W.  C.  Whitney,  New  York  City.  Mrs.  A.  M.  Palmer,  New  York  City. 

NORTH  CAROLINA. 
Mrs.  George  Wilson  Kidder,  Mrs.  Sallie  S.  Gotten,  Falkland. 

Wilmington. 

Mrs.  Charles  Price,  Salisbury.  Miss  Virginia  Stella  Divine, 

Wilmington. 

NORTH  DAKOTA. 

Mrs.  S.  W.  McLaughlin,  Grand  Forks.        Mrs.  Alice  Vineyard  Brovn,  Lisbon.  ' 
Mrs.  W.  B.  McConnell,  Fargo.  Mrs.  Frances  C.  Holley,  Bismarck. 

OHIO. 

Mrs.  Mary  A.  Hart,  Cincinnati.  Mrs.  Harriet  Taylor  Upton,  Warren. 

Mrs.  Walter  Hartpence,  Harrison.  Mrs.  Asa  S.  Bushnell,  Springfield, 

OREGON. 

Mrs.  E.  W.  Allen,  Portland.  Mrs.  Anna  R.  Riggs,  Portland. 

Mrs.  Mary  Payton,  Salem.  Mrs.  Hattie  E.  Sladden,  Eugene  City. 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

Miss  Mary  E.  McCandless,  Pittsburg.  Mrs.  Samuel  Plumer,  Franklin. 

Mrs.  Harriet  Anne  Lucas,  Philadelphia.       Mrs.  W.  S.  Elkins,  Philadelphia. 

RHODE  ISLAND. 

Mrs.  Amey  M.  Starkweather,  Pawtucket.     Mrs.  George  A.  Mumford,  Pawtucket. 
Miss  Charlotte  Field  Dailey,  Providence.     Miss  Loraine  Pearce  Bucklin,  Providence. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

V've  J.  S.  R.  Thomson,  Spartanburg.  Miss  Florida  Cunningham,  Charleston. 

Mrs.  Ellery  M.  Brayton,  Columbia.  Miss  Carrie  A.  Perry,  Walhalla. 


172  BOARD  OF  LADY  MANAGERS  AND  ITS  WORK. 

SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

Lady  Managers.  Lady  Alternates. 

Mrs.  John  R.  Wilson,  Deadwood.  Mrs.  Minnie  Daniels,  Watertown. 

Mrs.  Helen  Morton  Barker,  Huron.  Mrs.  Marie  J.  Gaston,  Deadwood. 

TENNESSEE. 

Mrs.  Laura  Gillespie,  Nashville.  Mrs.  Carrington  Mason,  Memphis. 

Mrs.  Susan  Gale  Cooke,  Knoxville.  Mrs.  Charles  J.  McClung,  Knoxville. 

TEXAS. 

Mrs.  Ida  Loving  Turner,  Fort  Worth.          Miss  Hallie  Earle  Harrison,  Waco. 
Mrs.  Mary  A.  Cochran,  Dallas.  Mrs.  Kate  Cawthon  McDaniel,  Anderson. 

VERMONT. 

Mrs.  Ellen  M.  Chandler,  Pomfret.  Mrs.  Minna  G.  Hooker,  Brattleboro. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  V.  Grinnell,  Burlington.       Mrs.  Theresa  J.  Cochrane,  Groton. 

VIRGINIA. 

Mrs.  John  Sergeant  Wise,  Richmond.          Miss  Mattie  P.  Harris,  Staunton. 
Mrs.  K.  S.  G.  Paul,  Harrisonburg. 

WASHINGTON. 

Mrs.  Melissa  D.  Owings,  Olympia.  Mrs.  Chauncey  Wright  Griggs,  Tacoma. 

Mrs.  Alice  Houghton,  Spokane  Falls.  Mrs.  Josephine  Ettinger,  Palouse. 

WEST  VIRGINIA. 

Mrs.  W.  Newton  Linch,  Martinsburg.  Mrs.  George  W.  Z.  Black,  Halltown. 

Miss  Lily  Irene  Jackson,  Parkersburg.         Miss  Annie  M.  Mahan,  Fayetteville. 

WISCONSIN. 

Mrs.  Flora  Beall  Ginty,  Chippewa  Falls.     Mrs.  Sam  S.  Fifield,  Ashland. 
Mrs.  Wm.  P.  Lynde,  Milwaukee.  Mrs.  J.  Montgomery  Smith,  Mineral  Point. 

,  WYOMING. 

Mrs.  F.  H.  Harrison,  Evanston.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  A.  Stone,  Evanston. 

Mrs.  Frances  E.  Hale,  Cheyenne.  Miss  Gertrude  M.  Huntington,  Saratoga. 

By  Commissioners  from  the  Territories. 

ALASKA. 
Mrs.  A.  K.  Delaney.  Juneau.  Miss  Maxwell  Stevenson,  Juneau. 

ARIZONA. 

Mrs.  Thomas  J.  Butler,  Prescott.  Mrs.  George  Hoxworth,  Flagstaff. 

Miss  Laurette  Lovell,  Tucson.  Mrs.  H.  J.  Peto,  Tombstone. 

NEW  MEXICO. 

Mrs.  Frank  Luse  Albright,  Albuquerque.    Miss  Lucia  Perea,  Albuquerque. 
Mrs.  Edward  L.  Bartlett,  Santa  Fe.  Mrs.  Louise  Dakin  Campbell,  Eddy. 

OKLAHOMA. 

Mrs.  Marie  P.  Harmon  Beeson,  Reno  City.  Mrs.  Julia  Wallace,  Oklahoma  City. 
Mrs.  Lucy  D.  Miles,  Kingfisher.  Mrs.  Mary  S.  McNeal,  Guthrie. 


BOARD  OF  LADY  MANAGERS  AND  ITS  WORK.  173 

UTAH. 

Lady  Managers  Lady  Alternates. 

Mrs.  Thomas  A.  Whalen,  Ogden.  Mrs.  Susie  B.  Emery,  Park  City. 

Mrs.  Margaret  Blaine  Salisbury,  Salt        Miss  Maggie  Keogh,  Salt  Lake  City. 
Lake  City. 

By  Commissioners  from  the  District  of  Columbia. 

Lady  Managers. 
Mrs.  John  A.  Logan,  Washington. 

Mrs.  Beriah  Wilkins,  Washington. 

Lady  Alternates. 
Mrs.  Emma  Dean  Powell,  Washington. 

Miss  Emma  C.  Wimsatt,  Washington. 

Standing  Committees. 

Thechairmen  only  of  the  Standing  Committees  on  Classification  are  here 
given,  as  the  full  list  is  too  long  for  the  space  that  can  be  devoted  to  it. 
Agriculture — Mrs.  William  H.  Felton,  Georgia. 
Breads — Mrs  Mary  Pay  ton,  Oregon. 
Viticulture,  etc. — Mrs.  Anna  M.  Fosdick,  Alabama. 
Live  Stock,  etc. — Mrs.  Melissa  D.  Owings,  Washington. 
Bees  and  Bee  Culture — Mrs.  Charles  H.  Olmstead,  Georgia. 
Mines  and  Mining — Mrs.  D.  F.  Verdenal,  New  York. 
Machinery  and  Transportation — Mrs.  Alice  Houghton,  Washington. 
Manufactures  (chemists'  materials,  etc.] — Mrs.  John  M.  Stone,  Mississippi. 
Photographs — Mrs.  Frank  L.  Albright,  New  Mexico. 

Manufactures  {furniture  and  fabrics.'] — Mrs.Richard  J.  Oglesby,  Illinois. 
Manufactures  {ceramics,  etc  ) — Mrs.  Mary  A.  Hart,  Ohio. 
Manufactures  (decorative  and  needle  work.} — Mrs.  John  J.  Bagley,  Michigan. 
Mamifactures  (silk  and  silk  culture.} — Mrs.  Harriet  A.  Lucas,  Pennsylvania. 
Electricity. — Mrs.  John  S.  Wise,  Virginia. 

Fine  Art  (sculpture  and  catving) — Mrs.  Rufus  S.  Frost,  Massachusetts. 
Fine  Art  {painting?) — Miss  Charlotte  F.  Daily,  Rhode  Island. 
Fine  Art  (engraving,  etc.} — Miss  Lilian  M.  Brown,  Missouri. 
Fine  Arts  (private  collections  ) — Mrs.Martha  B.  Stevens,  Maine. 
Liberal  Arts  (athletics,  etc.) — Mrs.  H.  F.  Brown,  Minnesota. 
Liberal  Arts  (charities,  etc?) — Mrs.  Elizabeth  V.  Grinnell,  Vermont. 
Liberal  Arts  (manual  training,  etc.) — Mrs.  Daniel  Hall,  New  Hampshire. 
Liberal  Arts  (kindergartens,  etc) — Mrs.  Jennie  S.Mitchell,  Kansas. 
Liberal  Arts  {higher  eduction.) — Mrs.  James  R.  Dean,  California. 
Liberal  Arts  {literature.) — Mrs.  Mary  S.  Lockwood,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Liberal  Arts  (architecture,  surveying,  etc) — Mrs.  Frances  E.  Hale,  Wyoming. 
Liberal  Arts  {government) — Mrs.  Myra  Bradwell,  Chicago. 
Liberal  Arts  {  pr.'sons,  etc  ) — Mrs.  Whiting  S.  Clark,  Iowa. 
Liberal  Ar.'s  (industrial  associations.) — Mrs.  J.  Frank  Ball,  Delaware. 
Liberal  Arts  {music,  etc) — Mrs.  Rollin  A.  Edgarton,  Arkansas. 
Ethnology,  Archceology,  etc. — Mrs.  Ellery  M.  Brayton,  South  Carolina. 
Ethnology,  Archceology,  etc. — Mrs.  Laura  Gillespie,  Tennessee. 
Ethnology,  Archceology,  etc. — Mrs.  James.  A.  Mulligan,  Chicago. 


174  BOARD  OF  LADY  MANAGERS  AND  ITS  WORK. 

A  resolution  of  the  Directory  required  approval  of  the  Board  of 
Lady  Managers  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  exhibits  from  women.  It 
provided  :  "  That  said  Board  of  Lady  Managers  shall  have  charge  and 
management  of  all  the  interests  of  women  in  connection  with  the  Expo- 
sition, and  will  be  the  official  channel  of  communication  through  which 
all  women,  or  organizations  of  women,  may  be  brought  into  relation 
with  the  Exposition,  and  through  which  all  applications  for  space  shall 
be  made  for  the  exclusive  use  of  women  or  their  exhibits  in  the  build- 
ings, or  for  the  construction  of  buildings  intended  exclusively  for 
women's  use  in  the  Exposition,  and  that  in  respect  to  these  and  all  simi- 
lar matters  connected  with  the  preparation  for  and  the  management  of 
the  Exposition,  in  so  far  as  the  same  relates  to  women's  work,  women's 
exhibits  and  women's  interests  in  general ;  that  the  direction  and  ap- 
proval of  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers,  through  its  president,  shall  be 
necessary  before  final  and  conclusive  action  is  taken."  They  also  gave 
power"  to  decide  upon  the  design  of  the  device  to  designate  those  exhibits 
at  the  Exposition,  that  are  in  whole  or  in  part  produced  by  female  labor." 

Every  clause  that  could  convey  full  and  complete  authority  to  the 
Board,  or  that  was  necessary  to  prevent  misunderstanding  or  abrasion  of 
t  by  others,  was  employed  to  give  them  jurisdiction  over  all  interests  of 
women  at  the  Fair. 

Gov.  Joseph  W.  Fifer,  of  Illinois,  said  :  "  I  note  with  mingled  pride 
and  satisfaction  the  measures  which  have  been  wisely  adopted  to  bring 
into  the  joint  management  of  this  Exposition  a  large  and  representative 
body  of  American  women,  who  are  expected  to  give  special  attention  to 
whatever  appertains  to  the  part  and  work  of  their  own  sex  in  the  activi- 
ties and  civilization  of  the  world.  There  is  in  this  a  peculiar  propriety. 
If  America  enjoys  one  distinction  more  creditable  to  her  than  any  of 
the  other  numerous  points  of  her  departure  from  Old  World  ideas,  that 
distinction  is  found  in  the  universal  respect  here  paid  to  the  character  of 
women,  and  the  liberal  share  here  accorded  them  in  shaping  the  thought, 
the  morals  and  the  institutions  of  our  Republic.  It  is  only  necessary 
to  add  that  every  such  broadening  of  women's  activity  has  been  thrice 
justified  by  results." 

First  Meeting  of  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers. 

The  first  session  of  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers  convened  Novem- 
ber 19,  1890.  There  were  present  eight  members-at-large,  two  from  the 
District  of  Columbia,  nine  from  the  City  of  Chicago,  two  from  each 
State  and  Territory,  and  nine  alternates  not  representing  members. 

Hon.  Thomas  W.  Palmer,  President  of  the  World's  Columbian  Com- 
mission, according  to  resolutions  passed  October  21,  1890,  called  the 


BOARD  OF  LADY  MANAGERS  AND  ITS  WORK.  175 

meeting  to  order,  and  Hon.  John  T.  Dickinson,  Secretary,  officiated  till 
the  Board  of  Lady  Managers  elected  their  officers.  After  invocation  by 
Rev.  Florence  Kalloch,  President  Palmer  addressed  the  Board,  and 
expressed  his  pleasure  in  welcoming  them  to  a  participation  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition.  He  admonished  them 
that  they  were  an  integral  part  of  the  Commission;  that  hitherto  no- 
thing had  been  conceded  to  woman  save  a  right  to  promote  philanthropic 
and  sentimental  enterprises.  "It  is  not  necessary  to  commence  with 
Semiramis  or  Helen  of  Troy,  and  come  down  through  recorded  history 
to  Dorothy  Dix,  Florence  Nightingale,  Annie  Carroll,  to  illustrate  what 
women  can  do ;  not  necessary  to  mention  Zenobia,  Queens  Phillippa, 
Isabella,  Elizabeth,  Joan  of  Arc,  Catharine  of  Russia,  Maria  Theresa, 
Mrs.  Somerville,  and  hundreds  now  living,  to  show  woman's  capacity  in 
statecraft,  war,  social  reforms  or  practical  affairs.  Hitherto  woman  has 
been  found  as  equal  to  the  exigencies  of  her  situation,  and  when  respon- 
sibility has  been  placed  upon  her,  she  has  developed  under  it,  as  well  as 
man.  This  is  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our  government,  however, 
that  woman  has  been  fully  recognized  in  the  administration  of  a  great 
public  trust  like  this,  and  the  action  of  Congress  in  passing  the  bill  with 
this  feature  has  met  the  general  approval  of  the  people.  This  shows  the 
growth  of  civilization  and  the  part  woman  is  taking  in  the  activities  of 
life." 

He  said,  also,  that  in  entering  upon  their  duties  he  would  not  advert 
to  the  fact  that  as  the  work  progressed  new  vistas  of  activity  and  effort 
would  open  before  them. .  And  further  :  "  All  that  American  women 
ever  lacked — opportunity — is  here,  and  from  every  State  and  Territory 
the  women  of  the  hour  are  here  to  take  advantage  thereof."  "  You 
have  before  you,"  he  added,  "  the  organic  law  of  Congress  commanding 
the  creation  of  the  Board  to  which  you  belong,  and  prescribing  the 
method  of  your  convening  your  organization,  your  rights,  duties  and 
compensations."  And  so  the  ship  was  launched  forth. 

Recognition  of  Woman's  Services. 

A  quorum  being  present,  the  Board  elected  for  temporary  chairman, 
Mrs.  William  H.  Felton,  of  Georgia,  and  Miss  Cora  D.  Payne,  of  Ken- 
tucky, temporary  secretary,  by  a  unanimous  vote. 

Mrs.  Felton,  upon  assuming  the  chair,  among  other  good  things,  said: 
"  It  is  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  Republic  that  women  have 
been  recognized  as  competent  to  attend  to  any  sort  of  public  business  by 
the  National  Government.  It  is  the  first  recognition  of  woman's  services 
as  a  citizen  and  a  taxpayer  by  Congress  ;  therefore,  I  feel  the  necessity. 


176  BOARD  OF  LADY  MANAGERS  AND  ITS  WORK. 

as  an  individual,  of  making  haste  very  slowly  in  all  matters  concerning 
our  permanent  organization.  This  is  the  grand  opportunity  to  show 
that  we  can  be  relied  upon  for  effective,  faithful,  devoted  work  in  all 
departments  connected  with  the  World's  Fair  Commission." 

November  20,  1890:  After  preliminary  work,  Mrs.  Lynde,  of  Wis- 
consin, moved  that  "  we  proceed  to  the  election  of  president  by  ballot." 
Mrs.  Cantrill,  of  Kentucky,  in  a  nominating  speech,  presented  Mrs. 
Potter  Palmer,  seconded  by  Mrs.  Deane,  of  California.  Mrs.  Traut- 
mann,  of  New  York,  nominated  Mrs.  John  A.  Logan,  of  the  District  of 
Columbia,  who  declined  in  favor  of  Mrs.  Potter  Palmer,  whom  she 
heartily  seconded.  There  being  no  other  nominations,  the  Chair  directed 
the  secretary  to  call  the  roll.  The  ballot  being  taken,  the  Chair 
announced  a  unanimous  vote  for  Mrs.  Potter  Palmer,  108  votes  having 
been  cast.  Mrs.  Cantrill  and  Mrs.  Logan  were  appointed  as  a  committee 
to  escort  Mrs.  Palmer  to  the  chair. 

Mrs.  Palmer's   Address. 

Mrs.  Palmer,  with  grace  and  dignity,  accepted  the  honor  and  addressed 
the  women  convened  as  follows : 

"  Ladies, — I  feel  deeply  the  honor  of  being  called  upon  to  preside  over 
this  commission.  My  humility  never  asserted  itself  more  strongly  than 
now  as  I  stand  among  so  many  distinguished  women  of  national  fame 
whose  brilliant  careers  have  been  a  matter  of  pride  to  the  entire  country. 
One  friend  has  flatteringly  put  me  in  nomination,  and  another,  Mrs. 
Logan,  who  seconded  me  in  so  cordial  a  manner,  is  one  whose  life  has 
been  largely  passed  in  the  fierce  glare  of  public  life,  and  whose  fine  qual- 
ities have  therefore  been  rendered  the  more  apparent.  She  has  shown 
by  her  words,  not  my  worth,  but  the  qualities  of  her  own  generous  heart. 
When  she  speaks  she  is  necessarily  eloquent,  and  in  this  case  I  am  the 
fortunate  gainer.  The  kindness  expressed  to  me  personally  by  the  ladies 
of  the  Commission,  also,  in  placing  this  great  responsibility  in  my  hands, 
has  greatly  touched  me. 

"  My  position  differs  slightly  from  that  of  your  temporary  chairman 
in  this,  that  while  I  have  no  enemies  to  punish,  I  have  many  friends  to 
reward — all  of  this  commission.  I  regret,  after  such  a  mark  of  confi- 
dence, that  I  have  to  ask  the  indulgence  of  the  ladies  for  my  inexperi- 
ence in  presiding.  I  hope  that  when  we  have  been  holding  meetings  as 
long  as  the  other  sex,  a  knowledge  of  parliamentary  law  will  be  taken 
as  a  matter  of  course  in  every  woman's  training.  In  the  meantime,  we 
may  amend  an  amendment  just  a  few  times  too  often,  or  be  put  to  con- 
fusion by  some  inexperienced  and  wily  tactician  suddenly  springing  '  the 


BOARD  OF  LADY  MANAGERS  AND  ITS  WORK.  177 

previous  question  ; '  we  may  surprise  Roberts  and  Gushing  by  proving 
that  motions  down  in  their  manuals  as  undebatable  present  no  difficulties 
in  that  line  to  us. 

"  We  must,  however,  seriously  realize  the  greatness  of  the  opportunity 
which  has  been  given  us.  I  felt,  yesterday,  as  the  ladies  met  in  this  room, 
and  the  North  shook  hands  with  the  South,  the  East  with  the  West, 
that  this  first  meeting  in  sympathetic  intercourse  of  women  from  all  parts 
of  the  country  and  their  learning  to  work  with  and  to  understand  each 
other  must  result  in  a  great  broadening  of  the  horizon  of  all  concerned. 

"  The  full  benefit  of  this  intermingling  will  not  be  felt,  however,  unless 
we,  each  and  all,  are  generously  willing  to  leave  for  a  time  the  narrow 
boundaries  in  which  our  individual  lives  are  passed,  to  give  our  minds 
and  hearts  an  airing  by  entering  into  the  thoughts  and  aspirations  ol 
others,  and  enjoying  the  alluring  vistas  which  open  before  us.  In  this 
fresh,  breezy  atmosphere,  brightened  by  the  warm  sunshine  of  sympathy, 
we  will  be  surprised  to  find  that  many  of  our  familiar  old  conventional 
truths  look  very  queer  in  some  of  the  sudden  side  lights  thrown  upon 
them.  Above  all  things  else,  harmonious  action  is  necessary.  That  is 
the  foundation  which  we  must  have  for  the  superstructure  that  is  to  be 
gradually  erected  and  which  we  trust  will  be  the  successful  result  of  our 
work  together. 

"  Ladies,  again  I  thank  you  most  heartily." 
12 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
Dedication  and  Opening  Ceremonies. 

AS  the  four  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  discovery  of  America 
by  Columbus  approached, -preparations  were  made  in  all  parts 
of  the  country  for  the  celebration  of  the  great  event.  In  every 
city,  town  and  hamlet,  flags  floated,  public  festivities  were  held, 
and  upon  all  sides  there  was  an  evident  recognition  of  the  day. 

The  celebration  in  New  York  extended  over  several  days,  ending  on 
the  twelfth  of  October,  and  consisted  of  a  magnificent  military  and  naval 
parade.  Vast  numbers  of  people  flocked  to  the  metropolis  from  sur- 
rounding towns  and  even  distant  localities,  and  participated  in  the  fes- 
tivities. The  greatest  celebration,  however,  was  in  Chicago,  occupying 
several  days  and  attended  by  multitudes  of  people.  Vice-President 
Morton  was  present,  also  the  governors  of  a  number  of  the  States, 
together  with  distinguished  persons  from  all  parts  of  the  country, 
including  President  Harrison's  Cabinet,  army  and  navy  officers,  and 
Members  of  Congress. 

The  public  exercises  began  on  the  nineteenth  of  October  with  the 
celebration  of"  Columbus  Day"  by  the  children  of  the  public  schools. 
The  rooms  in  the  various  school-buildings  throughout  the  city  where 
the  exercises  took  place  were  all  decorated  in  a  way  appropriate  to  the 
occasion. 

The  first  exercise  was  the  reading  of  President  Harrison's  proclama- 
tion. This  was  followed  by  a  flag  raising,  and  the  pupils  saluted  the 
colors.  They  also  pledged  their  allegiance  to  the  flag  in  concert  and 
sang  "  America."  The  next  feature  of  the  programme  was  reading  of 
the  scriptures  or  some  acknowledgment  of  the  Divine  Being.  The 
school  then  joined  in  singing  "Columbus  Day,"  after  which  the 
programme  was  varied  according  to  the  grade.  In  primary  grades  the 
little  ones  recited  patriotic  verses  and  sang  little  songs,  Avhile  in  the  gram- 
mar and  high  school  grades  historical  essays  were  read,  declamations 
delivered,  and  there  was  also  singing. 

The  reception  and  ball,  given  in  the  great  hall  of  the  Auditorium  in 
the,evening,  was  a  brilliant  affair.     Four  thousand  prominent  citizens  of 
various  States  were  invited  to.  participate  in  a  reception  tendered  to  t!i 
President,  Vice-President  and  ex-rfresidents  of  the  United  States,  th 
178 


DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES. 


179 


representatives  of  foreign  Governments,  Governors  of  States  and  Terri- 
tories, and  other  distinguished  guests. 

Thousands  of  electric  lamps  glowed  brightly  from  the  fa9ade  of  the 
towering  building  on  the  lake  front.  Along  the  broad  pavements  of 
Michigan  Avenue  dense  crowds  of  people  were  content  to  stand  closely 
packed  for  hours,  viewing  the  notabilities  as  they  arrived  to  attend  the 
reception.  About  nine  o'clock  the  rumble  and  flash  of  glistening  equipages 
began,  which  announced  the  arrival  of  lady  managers  and  patronesses. 

The  invited  guests  followed  in  rapid  succession.  Once  within  the 
great  Auditorium  the  first 
impression  was  that  re- 
sulting from  a  flood  of 
light  diffused,  almost 
dazzling  to  the  unaccus- 
tomed eye,  and  yet  it 
was  the  soft,  aggregated 
glowing  of  myriads  of  in- 
candescent lamps.  There 
seemed  no  lack  of  light 
in  any  quarter  of  the 
great  hall,  so  equally 
were  the  lamps  distri- 
buted. 

The    great    steel     fire 
curtain  of  the  stage  had  I 


been  lifted  and  the  stage 
flooring  had  been  ex- 
tended over  the  entire 
orchestra  pit.  Behind  the 
proscenium  arch,  the  lower  tier  of  boxes  had  been  extended  in  a  circle 
around  the  rear  of  the  stage.  Above  this  temporary  circle  of  boxes  at 
the  centre  were  four  other  boxes,  which  were  occupied  by  an  orchestra, 
discoursing  patriotic  airs. 

A  silken  banner  of  the  Spanish  royalty  was  suspended  directly  over 
the  centre  of  the  stage.  On  each  side,  and  directly  over  the  boxes, 
there  were  ten  banners  in  bunting,  each  containing  the  initials  of  the 
King  and  Queen  of  Spain  in  the  time  of  Columbus.  The  panel  in  front 
of  the  organ  and  between  the  boxes  and  the  proscenium  arch  was  deco- 
rated with  a  large  United  States  shield,  surrounded  by  a  stand  of  colprs, 
the  stars  and  stripes  in  the  middle,  flanked  on  each  side  by  the  flags 
of  all  the  American  Republics, 


HON.    LEVI     P.    MORTON. 


180  DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES. 

The  corresponding  panel  on  the  south  side  bore  the  shield  of  Spain, 
also  surmounted  by  the  Spanish  colors.  In  this  was  shown  the  flags 
of  every  nation  in  the  Old  World,  the  colors  of  Spain  and  Italy  being 
given  the  preference  in  the  arrangement. 

Graceful  Festoons  of  Smilax. 

From  Alabama  smilax  had  been  brought,  a  carload  in  all,  to  festoon 
the  faces  of  balcony  and  gallery.  Wild  smilax  was  hung  in  graceful 
festoons  in  front  of  all  the  boxes  and  along  the  balcony  and  gallery 
front.  This  was  caught  up  with  alternate  rosettes  of  red  and  yellow 
ribbon  extended  around  the  improvised  boxes  on  the  stage.  % 

Above  the  panels  on  each  side  of  the  proscenium  arch  were  banks 
of  palms  and  ferns  within  the  centre  section  of  the  main  balcony,  entirely 
hidden  from  the  view  of  the  guests  by  ferns  and.  other  potted  plants. 

On  the  twentieth  the  celebration  was  continued,  and  the  demonstra- 
tions of  enthusiasm  were  in  keeping  with  the  great  event,  which  was 
commemorated.  Chicago,  bedecked  in  bunting  and  evergreens,  aban- 
doned the  cares  of  business  for  the  monster  civic  parade,  which  was 
participated  in  and  witnessed  by  the  Vice-President  of  the  United  States, 
members  of  the  Cabinet,  governors  and  members  of  their  staffs  from 
over  a  score  of  States  and  distinguished  visitors  from  all  over  the  country. 

Every  building,  from  the  one  story  on  the  outskirts  to  the  sky- 
scraping  structures  in  the  city  proper,  observed  the  event  by  the  display 
of  colors  and  the  portraits  of  Columbus  and  famous  Americans.  Along 
the  main  streets  the  decorations  were  on  a  grand  scale,  some  of  the 
buildings  being  literally  covered  with  flags  and  streamers  artistically 
arranged. 

Several  times,  at  the  junction  of  streets,  the  crowds  were  so  great  that 
they  broke  through  the  cordons  of  patrolmen,  but  the  break  was  only 
temporary,  for  the  people,  screaming  and  fighting,  were  forced  back 
again  and  kept  there  during  the  passage  of  the  parade.  Stands  had  been 
erected  along  the  route,  which  was  not  over  three  miles,  and  these  were 
occupied  to  their  limit.  The  main  reviewing  stand  was  outside  the 
Post-office  Building.  Here  Vice-President  Morton,  ex- President  Hayes, 
members  of  the  Cabinet  and  other  distinguished  guests  viewed  the 
procession. 

At  the  main  reviewing  stand,  on  Jackson  Street,  were  over  two  hundred 
school  girls,  dressed  in  red,  white  and  blue,  and  arranged  in  their  seats  to 
form  a  monster  American  flag.  It  was  a  beautiful  sight,  and  was 

*j  o 

exceedingly  picturesque,  when  the  girls  waved  smaller  flags  in  unison, 
while  they  sang  patriotic  songs. 


DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES.  181 

At  the  head  of  the  parade,  to  hold  in  check  the  dense  crowd  which 
thronged  the  sidewalk  and  forced  itself  into  the  streets,  came  police 
mounted.  These  were  followed  by  the  a  detachment  of  police  on  foot. 

The  Chicago  Hussars,  in  black,  with  white  trimmings,  headed  by 
their  bugle  corps,  which  filled  the  air  with  stirring  martial  notes,  was  the 
escort  to  the  Mayor  of  Chicago.  The  City  Council,  in  carriages,  fol- 
lowed, and  then  came  the  Governors  of  the  different  States,  each  of 
whom  was  surrounded  by  a  brilliant  staff.  As  Governor  after  Governor 
went  by,  each  was  greeted  with  cheers. 

The  second  grand  division  was  led  by  the  Independent  Order  of  For- 
esters, twelve  thousand  strong,  who  made  a  fine  appearance  as  they 
swept  down  the  street.  The  dark  green  of  Italy  flowed  behind  the 
crimson  regalia  of  the  Foresters,  and  the  numerous  Italian  societies  were 
cheered  to  the  echo  as  they  went  by.  In  their  rear  was  a  gigantic  float, 
representing  "  Columbus  discovering  America,"  showing  the  "  Santa 
Maria  "  approaching  a  rock-bound  coast,  upon  which  a  number  of  Indians 
stood,  eagerly  scanning  the  approaching  vessel. 

Behind  the  float  tramped  three  hundred  Grecians,  wearing  the  decora- 
tions of  their  nation's  flag — blue  and  white. 

Eight  thousand  men  of  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America  were  over 
an  hour  in  going  past,  their  ranks  being  broken  at  frequent  intervals  by 
bands,  which  worked  industriously  at  America's  national  music. 

Then  came  the  descendants  of  the  men  who  had  won  the  battle  of  the 
Boyne,  their  persons  and  banners  bearing  knots  of  their  favorite  orange 
ribbons. 

The  Chicago  Badge. 

Three  thousand  five  hundred  men  of  the  Chicago  Turners'  Society, 
headed  by  the  National  Commission  of  their  Order,  looked  exceedingly 
well  in  their  neat  uniforms  of  gray  shirts,  trousers  and  hats.  Each  man 
bore  upon  his  left  breast  the  white  and  terra-cotta  Chicago  badge.  They 
were  followed  by  700  men  of  the  Bohemian  Turners'  Societies,  and  these 
by  five  hundred  German  veterans,  who  marched  proudly  beneath  the  red, 
white  and  blue  of  their  adoption,  and  the  red,  white  and  black  under 
which  they  had  marched  in  less  peaceful  times. 

There  was  a  strong  reminder  of  the  heather  as  1,200  bonnie  Scots  hove 
in  sight.  Every  man  wore  the  tartan.  The  bagpipes,  which  were  many 
throughout  the  column,  shrieked  shrilly  as  the  Scots  marched  on.  Two 
hundred  and  fifty  men  of  the  Royal  Scots'  Regiment,  clad  in  the  royal 
Stuart  plaid,  called  forth  loud  cheers  of  approval.  The  black  and  gold 
of  the  sons  of  St.  George  followed  the  Highlanders.  Then  came  rank 
after  rank  of  Croatian  and  Polish  societies,  consisting  in  all  of  about  two 


182 


DEDICATION  A^D  OPENING  CEREMONIES.  183 

thousand  men.  After  them  came  ten  times  as  many  ranks,  and  with  the 
proportionate  number  of  men,  and  every  man  a  Swede.  In  four  carnages 
were  sixteen  pretty  girls,  representing  in  their  attire  the  various  national 
female  costumes  of  Sweden  and  Norway. 

School  Boys  in  Line. 

The  next  division  was  made  up  of  two  thousand  boys  from  the 
grammar  and  high  schools  of  Chicago,  who  were  clad  in  various  styles 
of  uniform,  and  gave  vent  every  now  and  then  to  lusty  lunged  expres- 
sions of  their  "  yells."  Then  tramped  eight  representatives  of  every 
Grand  Army  post  in  Chicago  and  Cook  County,  reinforced  by  numerous 
delegations  from  neighboring  cities.  The  veterans  were  not  above  eight 
hundred  strong,  and  in  their  rear  was  a  float  representing  the  famous  old 
"  Monitor  "  as  she  appeared  before  fighting  the  "  Merrimac."  The  Sons  of 
Veterans,  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  Uniformed  Rank  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum  and  Knights  of  Pythias,  two  thousand  men  in  all,  closed  the 
division. 

In  the  rear  of  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  was  a  magnificent  float 
Columbus,  drawn  by  eight  handsome  dapple-gray  horses.  The  lower 
platform  was  embellished  with  the  coat-of-arms  of  the  Order,  and  on  the 
main  platform  stood  forty-four  columns,  each  surmounted  by  a  gilt  star 
representing  the  States  of  the  Union.  In  the  centre  was  a  huge  globe, 
above  which  rested  a  bust  of  Columbus.  Three  young  ladies,  represent- 
ing Friendship,  Love  and  Truth,  were  on  the  same  platform. 

Probably  no  display  was  so  keenly  appreciated  as  that  of  the  Indian 
boys  from  the  Industrial  School  of  Carlisle,  Pa.  There  were  three  hun- 
dred in  line,  dressed  in  light  cadet  uniforms,  headed  by  their  own  brass 
band.  Each  boy  carried  on  a  stick  a  tool  or  article  manufactured  by 
them  in  their  school.  The  first  line  showed  the  educational  features, 
and  those  in  that  line  carried  slates,  books,  globes,  etc. 

Oration   by  Hon.  Chauncey  M.  Depew. 

The  climax  of  the  preliminary  fete  days  of  the  Columbian  Fair  was 
reached  in  the  exercises  attending  the  dedication  of  the  Exposition  build- 
ings. The  day  was  faultless.  A  parade  of  fifteen  thousand  Federal 
and  State  soldiers  escorted  Vice-President  Morton,  and  the  officials  of 
the  Fair,  the  Supreme  Court  Judges,  Senators  and  Representatives  and 
diplomats  to  the  great  Machinery  Hall,  at  Jackson  Park,  where  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  people  were  assembled.  The  features 
ofthe  occasion  here  were  the  orations  of  Henry  Watterson  and  Chauncey 
M.  Depew.  At  night,  Archbishop  Ireland  inaugurated  the  World's 


184 


DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES. 


Fair  Congress  Auxiliary,  and  a  pyrotechnic  display,  witnessed  by  nearly 
one  million  people,  closed  the  scene.  The  orations  could  be  heard  by 
only  a  small  part  of  the  throng,  yet  their  patriotic  sentiments  awakened 
enthusiasm. 

In  the  course  of  his  brilliant  and  eloquent  address,  Mr.  Depew  said : 


CHAUNCEY    M.    DEPEW. 

"The  grandeur  and  beauty  of  this  spectacle  are  the  eloquent  witnesses 
of  peace  and  progress.  The  Parthenon  and  the  cathedral  exhausted  the 
genius  of  the  ancient  and  the  skill  of  the  mediaeval  architects  in  housing 
the  statute  or  spirit  of  Deity.  In  their  ruins  or  antiquity  they  are  mute 
protests  against  the  merciless  enmity  of  nations,  which  forced  art  to  flee 
to  the  altar  for  protection.  The  United  States  welcome  the  sister  repub- 


DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES.  185 

lies  of  the  Southern  and  Northern  Continents  and  the  nations  and  peoples 
of  Europe  and  Asia,  of  Africa  and  Australia,  with  the  products  of  their 
lands,  of  their  skill  and  of  their  industry  to  this  city  of  yesterday,  yet 
clothed  with  royal  splendor  as  the  Queen  of  the  Great  Lakes. 

"  The  artists  and  architects  of  the  country  have  been  bidden  to  design 
and  erect  the  buildings  which  shall  fitly  illustrate  the  height  of  our 
civilization  and  the  breadth  of  our  hospitality.  The  peace  of  the  world 
permits  and  protects  their  efforts  in  utilizing  their  powers  for  men's 
temporal  welfare.  The  result  is  this  Park  of  Palaces.  The  originality 
and  boldness  of  their  conceptions,  and  the  magnitude  and  harmony  of 
their  creations,  are  the  contributions  of  America  to  the  oldest  of  the 
Arts,  and  the  cordial  bidding  of  America  to  the  people  of  the  earth  to 
come  and  bring  the  fruitage  of  their  age  to  the  boundless  opportunities 
of  this  unparalleled  exhibiton. 

Romance  and  Reality  of  Human  Development. 

"  If  interest  in  the  affairs  of  this  world  are  vouchsafed  to  those  who 
have  gone  before,  the  spirit  of  Columbus  hovers  over  us  to-day.  Only 
by  celestial  intelligence  can  it  grasp  the  full  signifiance  of  this  spectacle 
and  ceremonies. 

"  From  the  first  century  to  the  fifteenth  counts  for  little  in  the  history 
of  progress,  but  in  the  period  between  the  fifteenth  and  the  twentieth  is 
crowded  the  romance  and  reality  of  human  development.  Life  has  been 
prolonged  and  its  enjoyment  intensified.  The  powers  of  the  air  and  the 
water,  the  resistless  forces  of  the  elements,  which  in  the  time  of  the 
discoverer  were  the  visible  terrors  of  the  wrath  of  God,  have  been 
subdued  to  the  service  of  man.  Art  and  luxuries,  which  could  be 
possessed  and  enjoyed  only  by  the  rich  and  noble,  the  works  of  genius 
which  were  read  and  understood  only  by  the  learned  few,  domestic 
comforts  and  surroundings  beyond  the  reach  of  lords  or  bishops,  now 
adorn  and  illumine  the  homes  of  our  citizens.  Serfs  are  sovereigns  and 
the  people  are  kings.  The  trophies  and  splendors  of  their  reign  are 
Commonwealths,  rich  in  every  attribute  of  great  States  and  united  in  a 
Republic  whose  power  and  prosperity  and  liberty  and  enlightenment  are 
the  wonder  and  admiration  of  the  world. 

"All  hail,  Columbus,  discoverer,  dreamer,  hero  and  apostle.  We,  here, 
of  every  race  and  country,  recognize  the  horizon  which  bounded  his 
vision  and  the  infinite  scope  of  his  genius.  The  voice  of  gratitude  and 
praise  for  all  the  blessings  which  have  been  showered  upon  mankind  by 
his  adventure  is  limited  to  no  language,  but  is  uttered  in  every  tongue. 
Neither  marble  nor  brass  can  fitly  form  his  statue.  Continents  are  his 


186  DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES. 

monument  and  unnumbered  millions,  past,  present  and  to  come,  who 
enjoy  in  their  liberties  and  and  happiness  the  fruits  of  his  faith,  will 
reverently  guard  and  preserve  from  century  to  century  his  name  and 
fame." 

Oration  of  Hon.  Henry   Watterson. 

Mr.  Watterson  closed  his  highly  patriotic  address  as  follows  : 

"  We  have  come  here,  not  so  much  to  recall  bygone  sorrows  and 
glories,  as  to  bask  in  the  sunshine  of  present  prosperity  and  happiness, 
to  interchange  patriotic  greetings  and  indulge  good  auguries,  and,  above 
all,  to  meet  upon  the  threshold  the  stranger  within  our  gate,  not  as  a 
foreigner,  but  as  a  guest  and  friend,  for  whom  nothing  that  we  have  is 
too  good. 

"  From  wheresoever  he  cometh  we  welcome  him  with  all  our  hearts ; 
the  son  of  the  Rhone  and  Garonne ;  our  God-mother,  France,  to  whom 
we  owe  so  much,  he  shall  be  our  Lafayette  ;  the  son  of  the  Rhine  and  the 
Moselle,  he  shall  be  our  Goethe  and  Wagner ;  the  son  of  the  Campagna 
and  the  Vesuvian  Bay,  he  shall  be  our  Michael  Angelo  and  our  Garibaldi ; 
the  son  of  Aragon  and  the  Indies,  he  shall  be  our  Christopher  Columbus, 
fitly  honored  at  last  throughout  the  world. 

"  Our  good  Cousin,  of  England,  needs  no  words  of  special  civility  and 
courtesy  from  us.  For  him,  the  latchstring  is  ever  on  the  outer  side ; 
though  whether  it  be  or  not,  we  are  sure  that  he  will  enter  and  make 
himself  at  home.  A  common  language  enables  us  to  do  full  justice  to 
one  another,  at  the  festive  board,  or  in  the  arena  of  debate  ;  warning  both 
of  us  in  equal  tones  against  further  parley  on  the  field  of  arms.  All 
nations  and  all  creeds  be  welcome  here;  from  the  Bosphorus  and  the 
Black  Sea,  the  Viennese  woods  and  the  Danubian  plains  ;  from  the  Hol- 
land dyke  to  Alpine  crag ;  from  Belgrade  and  Calcutta,  and  round  to 
China  seas  and  the  busy  marts  of  Japan,  the  isles  of  the  Pacific  and  the 
far-away  Capes  of  Africa — Armenian,  Christian  and  Jew — the  American, 
loving  no  country  except  his  own,  but  loving  all  mankind  as  his  brother, 
bids  you  enter'and  fear  not ;  bids  you  partake  with  us  of  these  fruits  of 
four  hundred  years  of  American  civilization  and  development,  and  behold 
these  trophies  of  one  hundred  years  of  American  independence  and 
freedom . 

Our  Crown  Jewels. 

"  At  this  moment,  in  every  part  of  the  American  Union,  the  children 
are  taking  up  the  wondrous  tale  of  the  discovery,  and  from  Boston  to  Gal- 
veston,  from  the  little  log  school-house  in  the  wilderness  to  the  towering 
academy  in  the  city  and  the  town,  may  be  witnessed  the  unprecedented 


DEDICATION     OF    THE    WORLD'S     FAIR     BUILDINGS. 


187 


188  DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES. 

spectacle  of  a  powerful  nation  captured  by  an  army  of  Liliputians,  of 
embryo  men  and  women,  of  topling  boys  and  girls,  and  tiny,  elves  scarce 
big  enough  to  lisp  the  numbers  of  the  national  anthem;  scarce  strong 
enough  to  lift  the  miniature  flags  that  make  of  arid  street  and  autumn 
wood  an  emblematic  garden,  to  gladden  the  sight  and  to  glorify  the 
red,  white  and  blue.  See 

'  Our  young  barbarians  all  at  play,' 

for  better  than  these  we  have  nothing  to  exhibit.  They,  indeed,  are  our 
crown  jewels;  the  truest  though  the  inevitable  offspring  of  our  civili- 
zation and  development ;  the  representatives  of  a  manhood  vitalized  and 
invigorated  by  toil  and  care,  of  a  womanhood  elevated  and  inspired  by 
liberty  and  education.  God  bless  the  children  and  their  mothers !  God 
bless  our  country's  flag !  And  God  be  with  us  now  and  ever,  God  in 
the  roof-tree's  shade,  and  God  in  the  highway,  God  on  the  winds  and 
waves,  and  God  in  all  our  hearts !  " 

Commemoration  Ode. 

The  commemoration  ode  read  and  sung  at  the  dedicatory  services  of 
the  World's  Fair  buildings  at  Chicago  was  from  the  pen  of  Miss  Harriet 
F.  Monroe,  a  young  lady  of  Chicago.  The  ode  was  written  by  her  to 
order,  the  commission  being  given  to  her  by  the  World's  Fair  Directory. 
Certain  lyrical  passages  of  the  ode  were  set  to  music,  and  these  passages 
were  sung  by  a  well-trained  chorus  of  five  thousand  voices.  The 
remainder  of  the  ode  was  read  before  the  assembled  multitude. 

The  apostrophe,  with  which  it  is  concluded,  and  which  was  a  part  of 
the  portion  set  to  music  and  sung,  was  as  follows  : 

Columbia  !     Men  beheld  thee  rise 
A  goddess  from  the  misty  seas. 
Lady  of  joy,  sent  from  the  skies, 

The  nations  worshipped  thee. 
The  brows  were  flushed  with  dawn's  first  light ; 
By  foamy  waves  with  stars  bedight 

Thy  blue  robe  floated  free. 

Now  let  the  sun  ride  high  o'erhead, 

Driving  the  day  from  shore  to  shore  ; 
His  burning  tread  we  do  not  dread, 

For  thou  art  evermore. 
Lady  of  love,  whose  smile  shall  bless, 
Whom  brave  deeds  win  to  tenderness, 

Whose  tears  the  lost  restore. 


DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES.  189 

Lady  of  hope  thou  art.     We  wait 

With  courage  thy  serene  command, 
Through  unknown  seas,  toward  undreamed  fate, 

We  ask  thy  guiding  hand. 
On  !  though  sails  quiver  in  the  gale  ! — 
Thou  at  the  helm,  we  cannot  fail. 

On  to  God's  time-veiled  strand  ! 

Lady  of  beauty  !  thou  shall  win 

Glory  and  power  and  length  of  days  ; 
The  sun  and  moon  shall  be  thy  kin, 

The  stars  shall  sing  thy  praise. 
All  hail ;  we  bring  thee  vows  most  sweet 
To  strew  before  thy  winged  feet. 

Now  onward  be  thy  ways  ! 

Great  Naval  Review  at  New  York. 

Among  the  imposing  ceremonies  which  celebrated  the  opening  of  the 
Exposition  was  a  naval  display  in  the  harbor  of  New  York.  Provision 
for  this  was  made  by  act  of  Congress,  and  an  invitation  by  the  President 
of  the  United  States  was  issued  to  all  the  leading  nations  of  the  world 
to  participate. 

The  international  review  in  honor  of  Columbus  culminated  on  April 
27th,  1893,  in  a  demonstration  more  spectacular,  more  noisy  and  more 
remarkable  in  many  other  respects  than  anything  of  the  kind  recorded 
in  modern  history.  There  have  been  naval  reviews  of  international 
character  before,  but  none  so  striking  as  this.  There  was  one  at  Genoa, 
Columbus'  birthplace,  in  1892,  at  which  vessels  representing  thirteen 
nations  participated,  and  in  which  Admiral  Benham,  of  the  Newark,  took 
part  for  the  United  States,  but  there  were  only  twenty-seven  vessels  in  all 
in  line  on  that  occasion,  and  these  mostly  second  class.  The  iron-clads  of 
Great  Britain,  France  and  Germany  have  made  imposing  demonstrations 
of  force  in  the  English  Channel  and  off  Spithead,  and  have  been  passed 
in  review  before  the  crowned  heads  of  England  and  Germany,  and  the 
powerful  Russian  fleet  has  more  than  once  flocked  by  itself  in  the  Baltic 
in  view  of  the  Emperor  of  all  the  Russias,  in  a  manner  to  excite  the 
apprehension  of  the  other  powers,  but  as  a  peaceful  demonstration  the 
New  York  naval  review  eclipsed  all  in  interest. 

The  Caravels  Have  the  Post  of  Honor. 

It  was  peculiarly  a  manifestation  of  sentiment,  not  of  force,  yet  some 
of  the  fleetest  and  most  formidable  naval  vessels  in  the  world  were  there. 
And  the  quaintest  part  of  the  day's  proceedings  was  that  the  post  of 


190 


DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES. 


honor  at  the  head  of  the  reviewed  columns  was  given  to  the  apparently 
unseaworthy  reproductions  of  the  Columbus  caravels,  the"  Santa  Maria," 
"  Pinta  "  and  "  Nina,"  which,  with  infinite  care,  had  been  towed  over  from 
Cadiz  to, Cuba  by  our  own  Admiral  Benham,  and  from  Cuba  escorted  to 
Hampton  Roads  and  New  York  by  the  Spanish  war  ships.  These  pigmy 
boats,  high  pooped,  and  lateen  rigged,  cut  away  amidship  like  a  Roman 
galley,  were  anchored  opposite  Ninety-third  street,  and  formed  practically 
the  turning  point  of  the  review.  The  contrast  of  four  centuries  of  naval 
development  could  not  have  been  more  strongly  and  picturesquely 
marked. 

The  line  of  vessels  reviewed  was  over  three  miles  in  length,  stretching 
in  two  columns  from  the  foot  of  Twenty-third  street  to  about  Ninety-fifth 
street,  where  the  reviewing  ship,  the  "'  Dolphin,"  anchored. 

The  foreign  vessels  were  most  of  them  stationed  on  the  New  York  side 
of  the  Hudson  River.  The  American  fleet,  with  the  German,  Dutch  and 


THE    SHIPS    OF    COLUMBUS 

Argentina  cruisers,  occupied  the  New  Jersey  side.  The  ships  were 
anchored  three  hundred  yards  apart,  and  a  space  of  four  hundred  yards 
was  left  between  the  two  columns. 

Thousands  of  visitors  poured  into  the  city  to  witness  the  sight.  By 
act  of  the  Legislature  and  proclamation  of  the  Governor  the  day  was 
made  a  public  holiday.  Business  was  generally  suspended.  Flags  were 
displayed  from  all  the  shipping  and  from  many  public  and  private  build- 
ings. Hundreds  of  thousands  of  spectators  lined  the  water's  edge  on 
both  shores  of  the  majestic  river,  perched  upon  the  roofs  and  upper 
stories  of  the  tall  buildings,  and  climbed  the  palisades  or  the  slopes  of  the 
riverside.  Every  point  of  vantage  from  which  a  view  of  the  scene  could 
be  obtained  was  occupied.  The  United  States,  by  authority  of  law,  took 
full  possession  of  the  waters  of  the  harbor  for  this  day.  A  cordon  was 
tightly  drawn  round  the  reviewing  vessels  and  the  reviewed,  and  until 
the  actual  ceremonies  of  the  review  were  over  no  unauthorized  boat  was. 


DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES. 


191 


allowed  to  pass  the  line.  Notwithstanding  the  temporary  restriction 
nearly  every  tugboat  and  excursion  steamer  in  the  harbor  was  engaged 
for  the  day  and  crowded  with  sight-seers,  awaiting  their  chance  to  review 
the  warships  on  their  own  account. 

The  proceedings  began  early.  At  8  A.  M.  the  vessels  of  Spain, 
France,  Brazil  and  Argentina  dressed  ship.  All  of  the  other  foreign 
vessels  hoisted  colors  with  the  Stars  and  Stripes  at  the  main.  The 
American  ships  hoisted  colors,  but  did  not  dress  the  yards  until  ten 
o'clock,  at  which  hour  the  British,  Russian  and  Italian  ships  also  dressed 
yards.  At  9.30  all  the  steam  launches  of  the  American  men-of-war  were 
dropped  and  manned, 
ready  to  go  to  the 
assistance  of  the  patrol 
fleet  should  any  bold 
intruders  seek  to  pass 
through  the  lines. 
Their  services  were 
not  needed.  The 
respect  which  the 
American  people 
never  fail  on  great 
occasions  to  pay  to 
authority  was  abund- 
antly manifested,  and 
would  have  been  had 
it  not  been  enforced 
with  such  overwhelm- 
ing demonstration  of 
power. 

The  embarkation  of 
the  Presidential  party  on  board  of  the  reviewing  boat  "Dolphin,"  was  a 
gorgeous  affair.  A  handsome  special  landing  place  had  been  erected  for 
the  purpose  at  the  foot  of  Twenty-third  street,  the  approach  to  which 
was  carpeted  and  draped  in  bunting. 

The  President  was  escorted  by  his  naval  aides  and  accompanied  by 
Mrs.  Cleveland  and  the  members  of  the  Cabinet  with  their  wives.  No 
representatives  of  the  press  or  of  the  general  public  were  permitted  on 
board  the  Presidential  yacht.  Even  the  Duke  of  Veragua,  the  nation's 
specially  invited  guest,  the  lineal  descendant  of  Columbus,  was  brought 
along  in  a  separate  vessel,  the  army  boat  "  General  Meigs."  The  "Dol- 
phin," John  Roach's  latest  achievement  for  the  government,  long  accused 


PRESIDENT    CLEVELAND. 


192 


DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES. 


of  *'  structural  weakness,"  had  been  specially  fortified  for  the  occasion  by 
having  a  great  cabin  built  clean  across  the  ship,  and  covering  one-fourth 
of  her  entire  length,  constituting  a  finer  dining  saloon  than  that  possessed 
by  any  yacht  that  rides  the  waters.  The  saloon  and  the  after-cabin  had 
been  elegantly  decorated,  carpeted  and  refurnished  in  hand-carved 
mahogany,  especially  designed.  The  members  of  the  Diplomatic  Corps 
had  previously  gone  on  board  the  coast  survey  steamer  "  Blake,"  which 
was  moored  alongside  the  "  Monmouth  "  at  the  Thirty-fourth  street  dock. 

Noisy  Honors  to  the  President. 

It  was  about  two  o'clock  when  the  signal  was  given  for  the  start.  As 
soon  as  the  President  stepped  on  board  the  "  Dolphin  "  the  vessel  tripped 
her  anchor  and  fired  one  gun  as  a  signal.  This  was  responded  to  by  a 


UNITED    STATES    DISPATCH  BOAT  "  DOLPHIN." 

boom  which  seemed  to  shake  the  whole  city.  The  double  turreted 
monitor  "  Miantonomah,"  lying  at  the  rear  of  the  port  column,  fired  for 
the  first  time  in  port  one  of  her  huge  ten-inch  guns,  charged  with  nearly 
two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  powder. 

Almost  before  the  reverberations  of  the  twenty-five  guns  had  died 
away  in  the  distant  echoes  the  whole  fleet  was  called  to  quarters,  yards 
were  manned  and  every  preparation  made  to  receive  the  President  of  the 
United  States  with  becoming  respect.  Seen  at  this  moment,  and  before 
the  enveloping  clouds  of  gunpowder  smoke  from  the  subsequent  salutes 
had  obscured  the  air,  the  scene  was  as  pretty  as  well  could  be  imagined. 
As  the  "  Dolphin's  "  bow  came  in  line  with  each  man-of-war,  "  present 


DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES.  193 

arms  "  was  sounded  on  the  bugle,  officers  and  crew  saluted,  the  bands 
struck  up  the  national  air,  and  a  national  salute  of  twenty-one  guns  was 
fired  by  each  ship. 

Titanic  Roar  of  Cannonading. 

During  the  half  hour  or  more  that  the  Presidential  progress  lasted  this 
cannonading  never  ceased,  until  in  the  whole  more  than  1,600  guns  had 
been  fired.  Towards  the  close  of  their  booming  separate  identity  had 
been  merged  in  one  titanic  roar,  while  flashes  of  red  flame  and  dense 
sulphurous  clouds  of  smoke  were  all  the  spectators  on  shore  could  dis- 
tinguish. The  firing  began  with  the  German  flagship  "  Kaiserin  Augusta" 
and  the  Brazilian  battleship  "Aquidaban."  It  was  taken  up  in  more  pon- 
derous manner  by  the  Dutch  "  Van  Speyk  "  and  the  Spanish  "  Infanta 
Isabel ;  "  it  was  followed  by  the  Argentine  "  Neuvo  de  Julio  "  and  the 
Italian  "  Etna ; "  was  continued  by  the  American  "  Charleston  "  and  the 
French  "  Arethuse,"  followed  by  the  flagship  "  Newark  "  and  the  Rus- 
sian Admiral's  ship  "  Dimitri  Donskoi,"  and  closed  by  Admiral  Ghe^- 
rardi,  in  the  "  Philadelphia,"  and  Admiral  Sir  John  Hopkins,  in  the  noble 
"  Blake." 

The  intervals  between  the  artillery  exercises  of  the  flagships  were 
filled  up  by  similar  exercises  on  the  part  of  other  vessels  of  the  squad- 
ron. Following  close  in  the  wake  of  the"  Dolphin,"  and  getting  the  full 
benefit  of  the  salutes  came  the  army  steamer  "General  Meigs,"  bearing  the 
honored  foreign  guest  of  the  day,  the  Duke  ofVeragua,  attended  by 
General  Schofield,  of  the  army,  and  Rear  Admiral  Belknap,  of  the  navy. 

The  only  other  steamer  permitted  within  the  sacred  limits  during  the 
brief  progress  of  the  Presidential  review  was  the  "Monmouth,"  upon 
which  were  Senators  and  members  of  Congress,  Governors  of  States, 
newspaper  representatives  and  other  invited  guests. 

Reception  of  the  Foreign  Admirals. 

When  the  "  Dolphin  "  reached  the  end  of  the  line,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Ninty-fifth  Street,  she  dropped  anchor  and  made  preparations 
to  receive  the  commanding  officers  of  the  foreign  squadrons. 

Duly  attired  in  full  ceremonial  uniform,  with  cocked  hats  and  swords, 
the  distinguished  officers  entered  their  barges  and  pulled  off  for  the 
Presidential  yacht.  Sir  John  Hopkins,  the  British  Admiral,  was  first 
received.  Next  came  Vice  Admiral  Koznakoff,  the  Russian  Admiral. 
Rear  Admiral  De  Libran,  of  France,  was  third.  Then  followed  Rear 
Admiral  Magnaghi,  of  Italy. 

The  Spanish  Admiral,  Senor  y  Leno,  though  an  invalid,  did  not  fail 
to  pay  this  ceremonial  mark  of  respect  to  the  Chief  Executive,  and  was 
13 


DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES. 


195 


followed  by  Rear  Admiral  Howard,  of  Argentina;  Rear  Admiral  Nor- 
hona,  of  the  Brazilian  fleet,  and  the  blonde-haired  and  blue-eyed  Captains 
of  the  German  and  Dutch  steamers.  These  visits  formed  one  of  the 
most  interesting  features  of  the  day.  As  nearly  all  the  foreign  officers 
spoke  or  understood  English,  the  ceremonies  were  attended  by  no  stiff 
formalities,  but,  it  is  said,  were  marked  by  cordiality  and  some  degree 
of  conviviality  also. 

Fifteen  minutes  before  the  reception  ended,  and  when  the  President 
was  preparing  to  land,  an  admonitory  signal  was  given  from  the  "  Dol- 
phin," and  as  he  left  the  vessel  and  entered  his  barge  at  the  foot  of  Ninty- 


UNITED    STATES    CRUISER    "  CHICAGO. 

sixth  Street  every  vessel  in  the  fleet  again  manned  yards  and  rails,  and 
once  more  fired  a  salute  of  twenty-one  guns,  following  the  "  Dolphin's" 
lead.     Then  the  President's  flag  was  lowered  from  the  "  Dolphin,"  and 
the  public  ceremonies  of  the  day  were  considered  over. 
/ 

A  Memorable  Scene. 

The  flagships  and  squadrons  courteously  returned  the  innumerable 
salutes  tendered  by  the  private  steamers,  and  their  officers  seemed  to 
heartily  appreciate  the  interest  their  appearance  created.  Nor  was  the 
spectacle  one  which  they  themselves  would  be  likely  to  forget.  The 
view  they  had  of  New  York's  magnificent  harbor  and  of  the  vast  con- 


196  DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES. 

course  gathered  to  honor  the  event  in  which  they  participated  could  not 
fail  to  make  an  impression. 

Even  with  the  restrictions  which  naval  discipline  imposed,  the  oppor- 
tunity for  viewing  at  close  range  the  crack  ships  of  the  ten  nations 
formed  a  leading  feature  in  a  day  which  will  be  memorable  for  its  spec- 
tacular effects,  for  the  deafening  roar  which  the  simultaneous  discharge 
of  840  guns  at  once  can  produce,  and  for  the  evidence  of  international 
friendship  which  the  peaceful  presence  of  the  war  ships  of  so  many 
foreign  powers  in  American  waters  afforded. 

The  names  and  description  of  the  vessels  participating  in  the  review 

were  as  follows : 

Americans. 

Name  of  Ship.  Type.  Tons.  Guns. 

Philadelphia Pro.  cruiser 4,324  12 

Gushing Torpedo  boat 116  .    . 

Newark  (flag) Pro.  cruiser 41833  12 

Atlanta P.  pro.  cruiser 5, 189  8 

San  Francisco Pro.  cruiser 4.083  12 

Bancroft Gunboat 838  4 

Bennington Cruiser 1,700  6 

Baltimore Pro.  cruiser  , 4,600  10 

Chicago  (flag) P.  Pro.  Cruiser 4,500  14 

Yorktown Cruiser 1,700  6 

Charlstown Pro.  cruiser 4,040  8 

Vesuvius Dyn.  gunboat 930  3 

Concord Cruiser 1,700  6 

Miantonomah D.  T.  monitor 3>99°  4 

Foreigners. 

ARGENTINA. 
Name  of  Ship.  Class.  Tons. 

Neuve  de  Julio Pro.  cruiser 3»5°o 

BRAZIL. 

Aquidaban Battle  ship 4,950 

Tiradontes Gun  vessel 800 

Republica Pro.  cruiser i  ,300 

ENGLAND. 

Blake Armored  cruiser 9,000 

Australia   .    . Armored  cruiser 5,6oo 

Magicienne Pro.  cruiser 2,95° 

Tartar Par.  pro.  cruiser I.77O 

FRANCE. 

Jean  Bart Pro.  cruiser 4,160 

Arethuse Unpro.  cruiser,  wood  •       3.600 

Husard Unpro.  cruiser 880 


DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES.  197 

Name  of  Ship.  Class.  *  Tons. 

GERMANY. 

Kaiserin  Augusta Pro.  cruiser 6,052 

Seeadler Unpro.  cruiser 1, 880 

HOLLAND. 

Van  Speyk Unpro.  cruiser 3,400 

ITALY. 

Etna Pro.  cruiser 3.53° 

Giovanni  Bausan Par.  pro.  cruiser 3, 130 

Dogali Pro.  cruiser 2,088 

RUSSIA. 

Dimitri  Donskoi Armored  cruiser,  barbette 5,796 

General  Admiral Armored  cruiser,  barbette 4,604 

Rynda Par.  pro.  cruiser 2,965 

SPAIN. 

Reina  Regente Pro.  cruiser 4-755 

Infanta  Isabel Unpro.  cruiser 1,152 

Nueva  Espana Torpedo  vessel 570 

The  Exposition  Opened. 

On  Monday,  the  first  day  of  May,  1893,  in  the  presence  of  300,000 
people,  Grover  Cleveland,  President  of  the  United  States,  surrounded  by 
the  members  of  his  Cabinet,  by  a  distinguished  representation  from  lands 
across  the  seas,  and  a  mighty  throng  of  American  citizens,  pressed  the 
electric  button  which  set  in  motion  the  miles  of  shafting,  the  innumerable 
engines  and  machines,  and  the  labyrinth  of  belting  and  gearing  which 
made  up  the  machinery  of  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition.  At  the 
same  moment,  a  National  salute  pealed  forth  from  the  gun,  the  "Andrew 
Johnson,"  lying  off  the  Exposition  grounds,  in  Lake  Michigan;  700  flags 
released  from  their  "  stops  "  at  a  concerted  signal,  swung  loose,  and 
streamed  out  under  the  sky  in  scarlet,  yellow,  and  blue.  Over  in 
Machinery  Hall  a  great  roar  arose,  and  the  turrets  of  the  building 
nodded  as  the  wheels  began  to  turn,  and  a  greater  volume  of  sound  arose 
from  the  throats  of  a  concourse  of  people  who  thus  acclaimed  the 
opening  of  the  grandest  achievement  of  American  pluck,  enterprise,  and 
generosity. 

From  the  center  of  the  platform  proper,  there  radiated  a  special 
stand,  and  upon  this  were  chairs  for  President  Cleveland,  Vice- President 
Stevenson,  the  Duke  of  Veragua  and  his  party,  and  the  higher  National 
and  local  officers  of  the  Fair.  Immediately  in  the  rear  were  the  sections 
assigned  to  the  members  of  the  Diplomatic  Corps,  while  to  their  right 


198 


DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES.  199 

and  left,  the  guests  of  the  occasion  were  arranged;  behind  these  were 
placed  the  orchestra.  In  front  of  all,  occupying  the  two  wings  on  the 
right  and  left  of  the  speakers'  stands  was  provision  for  some  300  repre* 
sentatives  of  the  press,  whore  presented  nearly  every  civilized  nation  on 
the  face  of  the  globe. 

Prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Milburn,  D.  D.,  Chaplain  of  the 
United  States  Senate,  after  which    the  following  poem,  written  by  Mr. 

W.  A.  Croffut,  was  read : 

The  Poem. 

Sadly  Columbus  watched  the  nascent  moon 

Drown  in  the  gloomy  ocean's  western  deeps. 

Strange  birds  that  day  had  fluttered  in  the  sails 

And  strange  flowers  floated  'round  the  wandering  keel. 

And  yet  no  land.     And  now,  when,  through  the  dark 

The  Santa  Maria  leaped  before  the  gale 

And  angry  billows  tossed  the  caravels 

As  to  destruction,  Gomez  Rascon  came, 

With  Captain  Pinzon,  through  the  frenzied  seas, 

And  to  the  Admiral  brought  a  parchment  scroll, 

Saying  : — "  Good  master,  read  this  writing  here — • 

An  earnest  prayer  it  is  from  all  on  board  ; 

The  crew  would  fain  turn  back  in  utter  fear. 

No  longer  to  the  pole  the  compass  points 

Into  the  zenith  crops  the  Northern  Star  ; 

You  saw  but  yesterday  an  albatross 

Drop  dead  on  deck  beneath  the  flying  scud. 

The  devil's  wind  blows  madly  from  the  East 

Into  the  land  of  nowhere,  and  the  sea 

Keeps  sucking  us  adown  the  maelstrom's  maw. 

Francisco  says  the  edge  of  earth  is  near 

And  off  to  Erebus  we  slide  unhelmed. 

Last  Sunday  night  Diego  saw  a  witch 

Dragging  the  Nina  by  her  forechains  West 

And  wildly  dancing  on  a  dolphin's  back  ; 

And  as  she  danced  the  brightest  star  in  heaven 

Slipped  from  its  leash  and  sprang  into  the  sea 

Like  Lucifer,  and  left  a  trail  of  blood. 

I  pray  thee,  Master,  turn  again  to  Spain 

Obedient  to  the  omens,  or,  perchance, 

The  terror-stricken  crew,  to  escape  their  doom, 

May  mutiny  and " "Gomez  Rascon,  peace  !  " 

Exclaimed  the  Admiral;  "Thou  hast  said  enough. 
Now,  prithee,  leave  me  ;  I  would  be  alone." 

Then  eagerly  Columbus  sought  a  sign 
In  sea  and  sky  and  in  his  lonely  heart, 
Finding,  instead  of  presages  of  hope, 
The  black  and  ominous  portents  of  despair. 


200  DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES. 

As  thus  he  mused  he  paced  the  after  deck 

And  gazed  upon  the  luminous  waves  astern. 

Strange  life  was  in  the  phosphorescent  foam. 

And  through  the  goblin  glow  there  came  and  went, 

Like  elfin  shadows  on  an  opal  sea, 

Prophetic  pictures  of  the  land  he  sought. 

He  saw  the  end  of  his  victorious  quest. 

He  saw  a  blaze  on  Isabella's  breast, 

A  string  of  Antillean  jewels  rest — 

The  islands  of  the  West. 

He  saw  invading  plenty  dispossess 
Old  poverty,  the  land  with  bounty  bless, 
And  through  the  wretched  caverns  of  distress 
Walk  star-eyed  happiness. 

He  saw  the  Bourbon  and  Braganza  prone, 
For  ancient  error  tardy  to  atone, 
Giving  the  plundered  people  back  their  own 
And  flying  from  the  throne. 

He  saw  an  empire  radiant  as  the  day, 
Harnessed  to  law,  but  under  freedom's  sway 
Proudly  arise,  resplendent  in  array, 
To  show  the  world  the  way. 

He  saw  celestial  peace  in  mortal  guise, 

And,  filled  with  hope  and  thrilled  with  high  emprise, 

Lifting  its  tranquil  forehead  to  the  skies, 

A  vast  republic  rise. 

He  saw  beyond  the  hills  of  golden  corn, 

Beyond  the  curve  of  autumn's  opulent  horn, 

Ceres  and  Flora  laughingly  adorn 

The  bosom  of  the  morn. 

He  saw  the  cloth  of  gold  across  the  gloom, 

An  arabesque  from  evolution's  loom. 

And  from  the  barren  prairies'  driven  spume 

Imperial  cities  bloom. 

He  saw  an  iron  dragon  dashing  forth 

Along  an  iron  thoroughfare — South,  North, 

East,  West,  uniting  in  beneficent  girth 

Remotest  ends  of  earth. 

He  saw  the  lightning  run  an  elfin  race 

Where  trade,  love,  grief  and  pleasure  interlace, 

And  absent  ones  annihilate  time  and  space, 

Communing  face  to  face. 

He  saw  relief  through  deadly  dungeons  grope  ; 

Foes  turned  to  brothers,  black  despair  to  hope. 

And  cannon  rust  upon  the  grass  grown  slope, 

And  rot  the  gallows  rope. 


DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES.  201 

He  saw  the  babes  on  labor's  cottage  floor; 
The  bright  walls  hung  with  luxury  more  and  more, 
And  comfort,  radiant  with  abounding  store. 
Wave  welcome  to  the  door. 

He  saw  the  myriad  spindles  flutter  round, 
The  myriad  homes  where  jocund  joy  is  found, 
And  love  is  throned  and  crowned. 

He  saw  exalted  ignorance  under  ban, 
Though  panoplied  in  force  since  time  began. 
And  science,  consecrated,  lead  the  van, 
The  providence  of  man. 

The  picture  came  and  paled  and  passed  away, 
And  then  he  said  to  Pinzon  in  the  gloom, 
"  Now,  Martin,  to  thy  waiting  helm  again. 
Haste  to  the  Pinta ;  westward  keep  her  prow, 
For  I  have  had  a  vision  full  of  light. 
Keep  her  prow  westward  in  the  sunset's  wake 
From  this  hour  hence,  and  let  no  man  look  back." 

Inspiring  music  for  the  great  occasion  was  furnished  by  an  orchestra 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Theodore  Thomas. 

Director-General  Davis  then  arose  from  his  seat,  and,  after  bowing  to 
the  Chief  Magistrate  and  those  surrounding  him,  faced  the  assemblage. 
Time  and  again  was  the  applause  renewed,  and  the  man  who  had  done 
so  much  toward  bringing  about  the  successful  consummation  of  the  great 
enterprise  was  for  the  moment  embarrassed  by  the  heartiness  of  his 
greeting.  Finally,  when  the  cheering  commenced  to  die  away,  he  turned 
again  to  the  President  and  commenced  his  address.  This  is  what  he 
said  : 

Address  of  Director-General  Davis. 

"  The  dedication  of  these  grounds  and  buildings  for  the  purposes  of 
an  International  Exhibition  took  place  on  the  2ist  of  last  October,  at 
which  time  they  were  accepted  for  the  objects  to  which  they  were 
destined  by  the  action  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  This  is 
not  the  time  nor  place,  neither  will  it  be  expected  of  me,  to  give  a 
comprehensive  resume  of  the  strenuous  efforts  which  have  been  put 
forth  to  complete  the  work  to  which  we  invite  your  inspection 
to-day. 

"  I  may  be  permitted,  however,  to  say  a  word  in  praise  of  and  in  grati- 
tude to  my  co-officers  and  official  staff  who  form  the  great  organization 
which  made  this  consummation  possible. 

"  This  Exposition  is  not  the  conception  of  any  single  mind,  it  is  not 
the  result  of  any  single  effort,  but  it  is  the  grandest  conception  of  all  the 


202 


DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES. 


minds  arid  the  best  obtainable  result  of  all  the  efforts  put  forth  by  all  the 
people  who  have  in  any  manner  contributed  to  it. 

The  National  Commission. 

"  The  great  commanding  agencies,  through  which  the  Government  has 
authorized  this  work  to  proceed,  are  the  National  Commission,  consisting 
of  108  men  and  their  alternates,  selected  from  the  several  States  and 
Territories,  presided  over  by  the  Hon.  Thomas  W.  Palmer  cf  Michigan  ; 
the  corporation  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  known  as  the  World's  Columbian 


SERIES    OF   TICKETS    OF    ADMISSION. 

Exposition,  consisting  of  forty-five  Directors,  presided  over  by  Mr.  H.  N. 
Higinbotham,  of  Chicago,  and  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers,  consisting 
of  115  women  and  their  alternates,  selected  from  the  several  States, 
presided  over  by  Mrs.  Potter  Palmer,  of  Chicago.  To  these  great 
agencies,  wisely  selected  by  Congress,  each  performing  its  special  func- 
tion, the  gratitude  of  the  people  of  this  country,  and  the  cordial  recogni- 
tion of  all  these  friendly  foreign  representatives  are  due. 

"To  perfect  from  these  agencies  an  efficient  organization  was  our  first 
duty,  and  it  was  successfully  accomplished  at  the  outset  through  com- 
mittees subsequently  by  great  executive  departments,  and  through  these 
departments  the  systematic,  vigorous  and  effective  work  has  progressed. 
Through  the  Department  of  Administration,  the  Department  of  Finance, 
the  Department  of  Works  and  the  great  exhibit  departments,  the  plan 
and  scope  of  a  grand  International  Exposition  have  been  worked  out. 


u 


O 


u 


u 


204  DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES. 

Department  of  Finance. 

"  The  Department  of  Finance,  composed  of  members  of  the  Illinois 
corporation,  has,  with  disinterestedness  remarkable,  and  with  courage 
undaunted,  successfully  financed  the  Exposition,  and  has  provided  for 
the  great  work  upwards  of  $20,000,000. 

"  The  Department  of  Works,  and  its  many  bureaus  of  artists,  archi- 
tects, engineers  and  builders  have  transformed  these  grounds,  which,  21 
months  ago  were  an  unsightly,  uninviting  and  unoccupied  stretch  of 
landscape,  into  the  beauty  and  splendor  of  to-day.  They  have  conspicu- 
ously performed  their  functions,  and  these  grand  avenues,  these  Venetian 
waterways,  the  finished  landscape,  the  fountains  and  sculptures  and 
colonnades,  and  these  grand  palaces  stand  out  a  monument  to  their 
genius  and  skill  supplemented  by  labor,  of  that  great  army  of  skilled 
artisans  and  workmen,  all  citizens  of  this  Republic. 

"  The  chiefs  of  the  great  departments,  who  have  exploited  this  mighty 
enterprise,  and  gathered  here  the  exhibits  forming  the  picture  that  is  set 
in  this  magnificent  frame,  have  confirmed  the  wisdom  of  their  selection. 
No  State  or  Territory  of  the  Union  has  escaped  their  voice  ;  no  land  on 
the  globe  that  has  a  language  but  has  been  visited,  and  the  invitation  of 
the  President  of  the  United  States  personally  presented.     Fortunately, 
at  the  inception  of  this  enterprise  our  Government  was  and  still  is  at 
peace  with  the  whole  world.     Commissioners  were  sent  to  Europe,  to 
Asia,  to  Australia,  British  North  America  and  to  the  islands  of  the  seas, 
so  that  to-day  the  whole  world  knows  and  is  familiar  with  the  signifi- 
cance of  the  great  peace  festival  we  are  about  to  inaugurate  upon  this 
campus,  and  all  the  nations  join  in  it,  celebrating  the  event  which   it 
commemorates. 

Grounds  and  Buildings. 

"  This  enclosure,  containing  nearly  700  acres,  covered  by  more  than  400 
structures,  from  the  small  State  pavilion,  occupying  an  ordinary  building 
site,  to  the  colossal  structure  of  the  Manufactures  and  Liberal  Arts 
Building,  covering  over  30  acres,  is  filled  and  crowded  with  a  display  of 
the  achievements  and  products  of  the  mind  and  hand  of  man  such  as  has 
never  before  been  presented  to  mortal  vision. 

"The  habits,  customs  and  life  of  the  peoples  of  our  own  and  foreign 
lands  are  shown  in  the  variegated  Plaisance;  those  stately  buildings  on 
the  north  are  filled  with  the  historical  treasures  and  natural  products  of 
our  several  States.  The  artistic,  characteristic  and  beautiful  edifices,  the 
headquarters  of  foreign  commissions,  surrounding  the  gallery  of  the  fine 
arts,  which  in  itself  will  be  an  agreeable  surprise  to  the  American 


DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES.  205 

beholder,   constitutes  the   grand   central    zone  of  social   and   friendly 
amenities  among  the  different  peoples  of  the  earth. 

Resources  and  Products  of  the  World. 

"  Surrounding  this  grand  plaza  where  we  land,  and  reaching  from  the 
north  pond  to  the  extreme  south,  is  the  great  mechanical,  scientific, 
industrial  and  agricultural  exhibition  of  the  resources  and  products  of 
the  world. 

"These  have  been  secured  from  the  four  quarters  of  the  globe  and 
placed  in  systematic  order  under  the  supervision  of  these  great  depart- 
ments ;  and  while  all  the  material  upon  the  grounds  is  not  yet  in  place, 
I  am  gratified  to  be  able  to  present  to  the  President  of  the  United  States 
at  this  time  the  official  catalogue  containing  a  description  and  location  of 
the  exhibits  of  4,000  participants  in  the  Exhibition.  The  number  of 
exhibitors  will  exceed  60,000  when  everything  is  in  place. 

"The  citizens  of  our  country  are  proud,  and  always  will  be  proud,  of 
the  action  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  of  America  in  authorizing 
and  directing  this  celebration  to  take  place,  for  the  appropriations  of 
more  than  $5,000,000  in  its  aid,  and  for  the  unswerving  support  and 
encouragement  of  the  officers  of  the  Government. 

"  To  the  States  of  the  Union  we  are  largely  indebted  for  active  and 
substantial  support.  A  sum  in  excess  of  $6,000,000  has  been  raised  and 
expended  by  the  States  and  Territories  for  their  official  use  in  promoting 
their  own  interests  conjointly  with  the  general  success  of  the  Exhibition. 

"  The  great  nations  of  Europe  and  their  dependencies  are  all  repre- 
sented upon  these  grounds.  The  governments  of  Asia  and  of  Africa  and 
the  republics  of  the  Western  Hemisphere,  with  but  few  exceptions,  are 
here  represented. 

"  To  the  citizens  and  corporation  of  the  City  of  Chicago,  who  have 
furnished  $i  1,000,000  as  a  contribution,  and  in  addition  have  loaned  the 
management  $5,000,000  more,  are  due  the  grateful  acknowledgment  of 
our  own  people,  and  of  all  the  honored  guests  who  share  with  us  the 
advantages  of  this  great  international  festival. 

"  To  the  women  of  Chicago  and  our  great  land,  whose  prompt, 
spontaneous  and  enthusiastic  co-operation  in  our  work  turned  the  eyes 
of  the  world  toward  the  Exposition  as  toward  a  new  star  of  the  East — 
an  inspiration  for  womanhood  everywhere — we  extend  our  cordial  and 
unstinted  recognition. 

"  It  is  our  hope  that  this  great  Exposition  may  inaugurate  a  new  era 
of  moral  and  national  progress,  and  our  fervent  aspiration  that  the  asso- 
ciation of  the  nations  here  may  secure  not  only  warmer  and  stronger 


206  DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES. 

friendships,  but  lasting  peace  throughout  the  world.  The  grand  con- 
certed illustration  of  modern  progress  which  is  here  presented — 
encouragement  of  art,  science,  of  industry,  of  commerce — has  necessi- 
tated an  expenditure,  including  the  outlay  of  our  exhibitors,  largely  in 
excess  of  $100,000,000. 

"We  have  given  it  our  constant  thought,  our  most  devoted  service, 
our  best  energy,  and  now  in  this  central  city  of  this  great  Republic,  on 
the  continent  discovered  by  Columbus,  whose  distinguished  descendants 
are  present  as  the  honored  guests  of  our  Nation,  it  only  remains  for  you, 
Mr.  President,  if  in  your  opinion  the  Exposition  here  presented  is  com- 
mensurate in  dignity  with  what  the  world  should  expect  of  our  great 
country,  to  direct  that  it  shall  be  opened  to  the  public,  and  when  you 
touch  this  magic  key  the  ponderous  machinery  will  start  in  its  revolu- 
tions and  the  activities  of  the  Exposition  will  begin." 

President    Cleveland's    Speech. 

"  I  am  here  to  join  my  fellow-citizens  in  the  congratulations  which 
befit  this  occasion.  Surrounded  by  the  stupendous  results  of  American 
enterprise  and  activity,  and  in  view  of  the  magnificent  evidences  of 
American  skill  and  intelligence,  we  need  not  fear  that  these  congratula- 
tions will  be  exaggerated.  We  stand  to-day,  in  the  presence  of  the 
oldest  nations  of  the  world,  and  point  to  the  achievements  we  here 
exhibit,  asking  no  allowance  on  the  score  of  youth. 

"The  enthusiasm  with  which  we  contemplate  our  work  intensifies  the 
warmth  of  the  greeting  we  extend  to  those  who  have  come  from  foreign 
lands  to  illustrate  with  us  the  growth  and  progress  of  human  endeavor 
in  the  direction  of  a  higher  civilization. 

"We  who  believe  that  popular  education  and  the  stimulation  of  the 
best  impulses  of  our  citizens  lead,  the  way  to  a  realization  of  the  proud 
national  destiny  which  our  faith  promises,  gladly  welcome  the  oppor- 
tunity here  afforded  us  to  see  the  results  accomplished  by  efforts  which 
have  been  exerted  longer  than  ours  in  the  field  of  man's  improvements, 
while,  in  appreciative  return,  we  exhibit  the  unparalleled  advancement 
and  wonderful  accomplishments  of  a  young  nation,  and  present  the  tri- 
umphs of  a  vigorous,  self-reliant  and  independent  people.  We  have 
built  these  splendid  edifices,  but  we  have  also  built  the  magnificent 
fabric  of  a  popular  government,  whose  grand  proportions  are  seen 
throughout  the  world.  We  have  made  and  here  gather  together  objects 
of  use  and  beauty,  the  products  of  American  skill  and  invention ;  but 
we  have  also  made  men  who  rule  themselves, 

"  It  is  an  exalted  mission  in  which  we    and  our   guests  from  other 


DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES.  207 

lands  are  engaged,  as  we  co-operate  in  the  inauguration  of  an  enterprise 
devoted  to  human  enlightenment,  and  in  the  undertaking  we  here 
enter  upon  we  exemplify  in  the  noblest  sense  the  brotherhood  of 
nations. 

"  Let  us  hold  fast  to  the  meaning  that  underlies  this  ceremony,  and 


VIEW  OF  THE  OPENING  CEREMONIES. 


let  us  not  lose  the  impressiveness  of  this  moment.  As  by  a  touch  the 
machinery  that  gives  life  to  this  vast  Exposition  is  now  set  in  motion,  so 
at  the  same  instant  let  our  hopes  and  aspirations  awaken  forces  which, 
in  all  time  to  come,  shall  influence  the  welfare,  the  dignity  and  the, 
freedom  of  mankind." 


208  DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES. 

The  Machinery  Started. 

As  the  President  was  concluding  the  final  sentence  his  eyes  wan- 
dered to  the  table  that  was  close  at  his  left  hand.  Upon  this  was  the 
button,  the  pressure  upon  which  was  to  start  the  machinery  and  make 
the  opening  of  the  Exposition  an  accomplished  fact.  It  was  an  ordinary 
form  of  Victor  telegraph  key,  such  as  is  in  use  in  most  telegraph  offices, 
except  that  it  was  of  gold,  instead  of  steel,  and  a  button  of  ivory,  instead 
of  rubber.  It  rested  upon  a  pedestal  upholstered  in  navy  blue  and  golden 
yellow  plush,  and  on  the  sides  of  the  lower  tier,  in  silver  letters,  were  the 
significant  dates,  1492  and  1893.  As  the  last  words  fell  from  the  Presi- 
dent's lips  he  pressed  his  finger  upon  the  button. 

This  was  the  signal  for  a  demonstration,  in  fact,  difficult  of  imagina- 
tion, and  infinitely  more  so  of  description.  At  one  and  the  same  instant 
the  audience  burst  into  a  thundering  shout,  the  orchestra  pealed  forth 
the  strains  of  the  Hallelujah  Chorus,  the  wheels  of  the  great  Ellis  engine 
in  Machinery  Hall  commenced  to  revolve,  the  electric  fountains  in  the 
lagoon  threw  their  torrents  toward  the  sky,  a  flood  of  water  gushed 
from  the  McMonnies  Fountain  and  rolled  back  again  into  the  basin,  the 
thunder  of  artilery  came  from  the  vessels  in  the  lake,  the  chimes  in 
Manufactures  Hall  and  on  the  German  Building  rang  out  a  merry  peal, 
and,  overhead,  the  flags  at  the  tops  of  the  poles  in  front  of  the  platform 
fell  apart  and  revealed  two  gilded  models  of  the  ships  in  which  Colum- 
bus first  sailed  to  American  shores. 

Flags  of  All  Nations. 

At  the  same  moment  also  hundreds  of  flags,  of  all  nations  and  all 
colors,  were  unfurled  within  sight  of  the  platform.  The  largest  was  a 
great  "  Old  Glory,"  which  fell  into  graceful  folds  from  the  top  of  the 
centre  staff  in  front  of  the  stand.  The  roof  of  the  Manufactures  Build- 
ing was  gorgeous  in  red  gonfalons,  while  the  Agricultural  Building  was 
dressed  in  ensigns  of  orange  and  white.  It  was  a  wonderful  scene  of 
transformation,  and  amid  it  all  cannon  continued  to  thunder  and  the 
crowd  to  cheer.  It  was  fully  ten  minutes  before  the  demonstration 
subsided.  Then  the  band  played  "  America  "  and  the  exercises  were  at 
an  end.  The  Columbian  Exposition  was  open  to  the  nations  of  the 
world.  It  was  precisely  the  hour  of  noon  when  Grover  Cleveland 
touched  the  button  and  thus  declared  the  opening  an  accomplished 
fact. 

The  most  satisfactory  feature  of  the  day's  proceedings,  from  a  femi- 
nine standpoint,  was  the  formal  dedication  of  the  Woman's  Building. 
Women  who  stood  in  the  great  throng  at  the  Administration  Building, 


DEDICATION  AND  OPENING  CEREMONIES.  209 

indifferent  to  the  eloquence  of  the  Chief  Magistrate,  breathlessly  fought 
their  way  through  the  masses  to  reach  their  own  Mecca.  Women  from 
every  corner  of  the  land  crowded  into  the  building,  endeavoring  to 
adjust  their  torn  dresses  and  crushed  bonnets  while  waiting  for  the 
ceremonies  set  for  -2.30  to  be  begun. 

Queen  Victoria  Represented. 

Shortly  after  this  the  Ceremonies  Committee  began  to  gather  on  the 
platform,  and  soon  from  behind  the  curtain  of  palms  and  flowers  sweet 
strains  of  music  arose,  the  grand  march  of  Jean  Jngeborg  Von  Bronsart, 
followed  by  prayer  by  Miss  Ida  Hullin.  Miss  Frances  Ellicott,  of 
London,  Eng.,  favored  the  assembled  women  with  a  dramatic  overture, 
after  which  Mrs.  Potter  Palmer  arose  and  delivered  an  address,  in  the 
course  of  which  she  said  : 

"  Her  Majesty  the  Queen  of  England  has  kindly  sent  an  exhibit  of  the 
work  of  her  own  hands,  with  the  message  that,  while  she  usually  feels 
no  interest  in  expositions,  she  gives  this  special  token  of  sympathy  with 
the  work  of  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers  because  of  its  efforts  for 
women.  That  the  English  Commitee  has  included  in  its  exhibit  and  in 
its  catalogue  a  plea  for  the  higher  education  of  women  is,  in  itself,  a 
significant  fact.  Her  Majesty  the  Queen  Regent  of  Spain  has  kindly 
promised  to  gratify  our  desire  by  sending  some  relics  of  the  great 
Isabella,  whose  name  is  so  closely  associated  with  that  of  the  discoverer 
of  our  continent. 

"  The  Orient  has  not  been  behind  in  its  efforts  to  co-operate  with  us? 
although  it  has  succeeded  in  doing  so  only  on  a  limited  scale,  and  in 
many  cases  unofficially. 

"  Japan,  under  the  guidance  of  its  liberal  and  intelligent  Empress,  has 
promptly  and  cordially  promoted  our  plans. 

"  Her  Majesty  the  Queen  of  Siam,  has  sent  a  special  delegate  with 
directions  that  she  put  herself  under  our  leadership  and  learn  what 
industrial  and  educational  advantages  are  open  to  women  in  other 
countries,  so  that  Siam  may  adopt  such  measures  as  will  elevate  the 
condition  of  her  women. 

"  We  rejoice  in  the  possession  of  this  beautiful  building  in  which  we 
meet  to-day  in  its  delicacy,  symmetry  and  strength.  The  eloquent 
President  of  the  Commission  last  October  dedicated  the  great  Exposition 
Buildings  to  humanity:  we  now  dedicate  the  Woman's  Building  to  an 
elevated  womanhood,  knowing  that  by  so  doing  we  shall  best  serve  the 
cause  of  humanity. " 


CHAPTER  IX. 
Manufactures  and  Liberal  Arts  Building. 

THIS  was  the  largest  building  of  the  Exposition.     It  had  the 
appearance  of  being  four  separate  buildings,  yet  connected  and 
grouped  around  a  large  interior  court.     It  was  located  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  park  near  the^  lake  shore.     There  was  a 
waterway  on  the  south  and  west  sides.     Figures  can   convey  but  little 
idea  of  the  size  of  this  structure,  which  was  the  largest  ever  built  for  an 
Exposition.     It  was  1,688  feet  in  length,  and   788   feet  in  width.     The 
floor  space  comprised  an  area  of  about  thirty  acres,  to  which  must  be 
added  ten  acres  of  floor  space  in  the  galleries. 

Four  buildings  were  under  one  roof,  which  had  an  unbroken  span 
through  the  centre  of  the  building  388  feet  wide  and  1400  feet  long. 
Running  through  the  centre  north  and  south  was  an  avenue  fifty  feet 
wide,  appropriately  named  Columbia  Avenue.  Another  avenue  of  the 
same  widtl]  crossed  the  building  from  one  side  to  the  other.  The  arched 
roof  was  1 50  feet  high.  This  gigantic  structure  was  symmetrical,  although 
its  immense  and  shapely  proportions  did  not  at  first  impress  the  visitor 
looking  from  the  outside,  because  of  other  buildings  in  the  immediate 
vicinity. 

In  order  to  give  an  idea  of  its  size,  it  has  been  estimated  that  an 
ordinary  ten-story  building  could  be  carried  through  the  main  hall 
without  touching  the  top  or  sides  ;  that  the  largest  church  in  the  world, 
St.  Peter's  at  Rome,  would  occupy  only  one-third  of  the  space ;  that  six 
buildings  like  the  Chicago  Auditorium,  minus  the  towers,  could  easily 
stand  inside  the  central  hall.  The  immensity  of  the  structure  and  the 
wonder  of  its  completion  grew  upon  the  observer  until  he  was  almost 
overwhelmed  with  the  magnitude  of  the  edifice  and  the  task  of  erecting 
it. 

The  simplicity  of  the  design  was  apparent  at  every  step,  and  all  the 
spaces  were  fully  utilized.  The  classic  feature  of  architecture  was 
displayed  here  more  fully  and  in  a  manner  more  attractive  than  in  any 
other  part  of  the  Exposition  grounds.  The  interior  of  the  building  was 
covered  with  "  staff,"  which  gave  it  the  appearance  of  white  marble. 
This  material,  while  capable  of  being  made  ornamental,  was  less 
expensive  than  any  other  that  could  have  been  used  and  was  capable  of 

being  wrought  into  every  shape  designed  by  the  architect  or  artist.     For 
210 


MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING.  211 

the  floor  3,000,000  feet  of  lumber  were  used  and  seven  car  loads  of  nails. 
The  galleries  were  approached  by  thirty  staircases  twelve  feet  in  width, 
and  the  gallery  itself  was  fifty  feet  wide  and  extended  around  the  entire 
building. 

Spacious  "Windows  and  Aisles. 

From  this  gallery  fine  views  were  obtained  of  the  myriads  of  exhibits 
below  and  the  vast  throngs  of  visitors.  The  decorations,  both  exterior 
and  interior,  were  elaborate  and  carefully  arranged.  The  roof  was 
constructed  of  iron  and  glass,  and  the  windows  on  the  four  sides  were  of 
such  dimensions  as  to  afford  an  abundance  of  light. 

The  aisles,  which  were  arranged  at  right  angles  like  the  streets  of  a 
city,  were  twenty  miles  in  length,  and  the  immense  spaces  overhead 
were  illuminated  by  groups  of  arc  electric  lights. 

The  building  had  four  main  entrances,  one  on  each  of  its  sides,  in  the 
form  of  triumphal  arches.  These  grand  arches  were  85  feet  high, 
and  each  was  supported  by  four  columns,  two  on  each  side  of  the 
portal,  65  feet  high.  Sculptured  eagles,  each  20  feet  in  height, 
were  placed  above  the  cornices  of  the  four  entrances.  In  addition 
to  the  four  main^entrances,  there  was  a  pavillion  at  each  corner  of  the 
building,  with  a  smaller  arch  over  the  entrance,  having  seven  Corinthian 
columns  instead  of  four.  A  series  of  arches  was  placed  along  each  of 
the  four  sides  of  the  structure,  the  upper  parts  of  which  were  occupied 
by  windows.  There  was  an  air  of  simple  grandeur  about  the  building, 
and  its  proportions  could  not  have  been  better  studied  if  the  design  had 
been  to  make  it  permanent,  instead  of  using  it  for  only  the  six  months  of 
the  Exposition. 

Symbolical  Ornaments. 

The  long  array  of  columns  and  arches  on  the  sides  was  relieved  from 
monotony  by  elaborate  ornamentation,  in  which  female  figures,  symbolical 
of  the  various  arts  and  sciences,  formed  a  conspicuous  and  very  attrac- 
tive part.  There  were  also  designs  showing  in  relief  the  seals  of  the 
different  States  of  the  Union  and  the  various  foreign  nations.  These 
were  of  vast  size  and  in  keeping  with  the  magnitude  of  the  other  parts  of 
the  building.  The  square  pillars  that  supported  the  arches  of  the  facades 
between  the  windows  were  the  only  exterior  parts  without  decoration. 
The  idea  of  strength  and  solidity  was  apparent  everywhere. 

Over  the  great  arches  of  the  doorways  were  the  figures  of  Cupids 
holding  long  fluttering  festoons.  The  upper  cornices  were  decorated 
with  ornamental  vases,  in  which  were  planted  flag-poles  for  displaying 
the  flags  of  various  nations.  The  fluttering  of  these  in  the  winds,  show- 


212  MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING. 

ing  a  combination  of  the  gayest  colors,  gave  to  the  immense  building  a 
holiday  appearance,  and  at  the  same  time  suggested  that  within  its  vast 
enclosures  were  condensed  the  treasures  of  the  world. 

The  architect  of  the  building  was  Mr.  Geo.  B.  Post,  of  New  York,  who 
succeeded  admirably  in  combining  beauty  with  massive  strength  and 
dignity.  The  sculptures  of  the  interior  were  the  work  of  Karl  Bitter,  of 
New  York.  These  represented  many  of  the  arts  and  industries  whose 
products  were  on  exhibition.  Never  before  under  one  roof  was  gathered 
such  an  illustration  of  the  world's  progress  and  the  triumphs  of  civiliza- 
tion. The  Exposition  represented  the  grandest  achievements  of  the 
human  mind  in  every  department  of  industry,  in  all  the  Arts  and  Sciences, 
in  Education  and  Religion.  Here  were  the  finest  products  of  the  loom, 
the  sculptor's  chisel,  the  painter's  brush,  and  here  the  most  wonderful 
discoveries  in  all  the  industrial  arts  stood  before  the  admiring  gaze  of 
multitudes  drawn  from  all  parts  of  the  globe  to  witness  the  triumphs  of 
America  and  share  in  her  glory. 

Superb  Achievements. 

And  while  threading  the  twenty  miles  of  streets  in  this  vast  building, 
and  gazing  upon  the  profusion  of  exhibits  worth  untold  millions  of 
money,  one  could  realize  the  saying,  that  "the  grandest  effect  of  the 
Exposition  would  be  educational  in  its  character."  Here  the  world 
would  see  what  the  world  had  done.  Here  monarchs  would  learn  that 
there  are  uncrowned  monarchs  whose  achievements  are  no  less  magnifi- 
cent than  those  of  the  minds  that  rule  nations  and  the  swords  that  win 
battles.  All  this  was  worth  the  time,  toil  and  money  required  for  the 
Columbian  celebration. 

All  observers  were  impressed,  not  merely  with  the  greatness  of  the 
Exposition,  but  with  the  quality  of  it.  The  finest  handicraft,  the  gems 
and  fabrics  wrought  by  the  most  consummate  skill,  the  master  paintings 
of  artistic  genius,  the  choicest  products  of  the  earth,  marked  the 
grandeur  of  the  age  and  the  point  which  the  human  mind  has  reached  in 
every  department  of  its  activity 

The  Manufactures  and  Liberal  Arts  Building  cost  $1,500,000,  yet 
what  is  money  in  comparison  with  the  objects  gained  ?  Although 
Americans  have  been  charged  with  being  lovers  of  the  "Almighty 
Dollar,"  they  do  not  love  it  any  more  than  other  nations  love  their 
typical  coins,  for  money  rules  the  world,  and  within  certain  limits  money 
ought  to  rule.  Yet  when  America  resolved  upon  an  Exposition  such  as 
never  was  known  before,  she  did  not  consider  that  money  would  be 
uselessly  expended.  The  nation  endorsed  the  undertaking,  the  separate 


MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING.  213 

States  bore  their  part,  and  private  and  public  enterprise  marshalled  their 
forces  and  led  the  way  to  the  sublime  triumph.  The  Nation  felt  a  pride 
in  her  great  celebration,  and  although  the  Exposition,  it  was  hoped, 
would  pay  for  itself,  yet  this  was  a  secondary  consideration.  To 
commemorate  the  great  discovery  of  Columbus  and  show  the  progress 
of  America  and  the  world  down  to  the  present  time,  was  the  one  lofty 
aim  and  noble  purpose. 

Wonders  of  Invention. 

The  Department  of  Manufactures  was  divided  into  thirty-three  groups, 
sub-divided  into  more  than  two  hundred  classes,  and  included  the  varied 
industries  which  employ  the  countless  machines  in  present  use,  and  every 
form  of  handicraft.  In  this  department  the  United  States  holds  a  high 
place,  for  this  has  been  a  Century  of  Invention,  and  the  needs  of  this  new 
country  have  called  for  many  ingenious  devices  for  the  saving  of  labor. 
The  wonders  of  Oriental  skill,  the  treasures  of  European  industry,  the 
skill  of  American  inventions  and  processes,  were  all  set  in  order  behind 
the  gleaming  facades  of  a  classic  temple,  under  a  sky  which  little  more 
than  a  half  century  ago  looked  down  on  a  great  lake  without  a  sail  and 
a  waste  of  marsh  land  peopled  only  by  wandering  savages. 

The  Department  of  Liberal  Arts  gave  the  chief  honor  and  prominence 
to  education,  and  it  acted  wisely,  for  it  includes  all  arts.  Music,  science, 
literature,  physical  science,  in  short,  all  things  that  educate  and  uplift, 
that  ease  the  downward  tension,  that  broaden  the  faith  and  the  under- 
standing, had  place  and  illustration  in  this  department.  It  included  the 
newest  deductions  of  physiology  and  science,  and  the  most  remote  find- 
ings of  archaeological  research.  It  proclaimed  the  universality  of 
knowledge  and  stretched  full  hands  to  the  wide  world. 

Superb  Exhibits. 

The  Hall  of  Manufactures  and  Liberal  Arts  naturally  contained  the 
most  comprehensive  classification  of  all  the  exhibit  halls.  Its  contents 
were  limited  to  the  finished  material  in  each  line  of  industry  represented, 
and  no  machinery  was  allowed  within  its  doors  except  the  light  shafting 
and  incidental  apparatus  connected  with  some  of  the  small  displays, 
where  the  proper  exhibition  of  a  certain  line  demanded  a  working 
exhibit.  In  every  other  case  the  rule  was  enforced  against  anything  like 
an  infringement  on  the  province  of  the  machinery  classification. 

Just  at  the  corner  of  Columbia  Avenue,  which  was  the  main  aisle  run- 
ning north  and  south  where  it  crosses  the  main  east  and  west  aisles,  was 
the  great  clock  tower  furnished  by  the  Self- Winding  Clock  Company,  of 


214  MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING. 

New  York.  This  was  a  beautiful  piece  of  architecture  worthy  of  the 
great  building.  It  towered  above  its  surroundings  and  served  very  well 
to  accentuate  the  Empire  State's  prominence,  both  in  an  artistic  and 
manufacturing  sense.  The  entire  northwest  quarter  of  the  building, 
beginning  at  this  clock  tower,  and  a  section  across  the  northern  end  of 
the  main  floor  are  given  over  to  domestic  exhibits,  as  well  as  a  large  part 
of  the  gallery  above  the  main  floor  space. 

A  Wonderful  Clock. 

The  Waterbury  Clock  Company  installed  a  timepiece  that  in  the 
diversity  of  its  accomplishments  was  unrivalled.  It  was  the  original 
intention  of  the  company  to  complete  its  clock  so  that  it  might  be  placed 
on  exhibition  at  the  Paris  Exposition  in  1889,  but  the  scope  of  the  under- 
taking assumed  greater  proportions  as  the  work  progressed,  and  it  was 
completed  only  a  few  weeks  before  the  Fair  opened. 

The  timepiece  stands  1 6  feet  in  height,  with  a  six-foot  base.  It  is 
made  of  black  walnut,  highly  polished  and  handsomely  carved  with 
scenes  representing  American  history  from  the  landing  of  Columbus  to 
the  present  time.  At  the  lower  part  of  the  clock  and  on  each  side  is  an 
allegorical  scene,  representing  mechanical  progress  during  the  last  century, 
every  figure  in  each  group  being  in  motion. 

The  largest  scene  is  in  the  center  of  the  clock.  It  represents  the  "  train 
room "  of  the  Waterbury  Clock  Company,  with  all  the  shafting  and 
machinery  in  operation  and  twenty-five  operatives  at  work.  The  figures 
go  through  every  motion  of  work  in  that  department. 

American  Inventions  Remembered. 

/ 

Four  scenes  are  represented  on  the  sides  of  the  clock.  The  subjects 
are,  first,  a  cotton  gin  in  full  operation  in  a  cotton  field,  with  the  negroes 
carrying  the  cotton  in  from  the  fields  and  placing  it  on  the  cotton  gin, 
while  Eli  Whitney,  who  stands  by,  is  explaining  the  working  of  the 
machinery  to  a  planter.  A  second  scene  shows  the  old  method  of  manu- 
facturing cloth.  The  operatives  are  at  work  beating  the  flax  and  prepar- 
ing it  for  the  looms  and  spinning  wheels.  A  third  scene  represents  a  coal  , 
mine  with  the  cage  working  and  the  miners  digging  into  the  banks  of 
coal. 

In  a  fourth  scene  is  a  representation  of  the  improvement  in  sewing 
machines.  Elias  Howe  is  watching  the  work  of  one  of  his  machines 
while  close  by  modern  machines  are  plying,  and  in  another  adjacent  group 
are  a  number  of  women  laboriously  sewing  by  hand.  The  fifth  group 
indicates  the  advance  in  the  electrical  world.  Electrician  Daft  is  repre- 


MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING.  215 

sented  operating  a  dynamo.  The  sixth  shows  the  interior  of  a  telephone 
and  telegraph  office  with  operators  at  work  and  messenger  boys  running 
in  and  out. 

Illustrations  of  Watch-Making. 

Scene  seven  contrasts  the  old  and  new  methods  of  manufacturing 
watches,  showing  the  improved  factories  of  the  present  day  and  a  kitchen 
in  Switzerland,  where  watches  were  made  by  hand  a  century  ago.  The 
last  is  an  old-fashioned  saw-mill  with  the  saw  running,  logs  moving  and 
children  playing  near  by. 

The  figures  are  all  operated  by  an  electric  motor  and  are  constantly  in 
motion.  The  centre  of  the  clock  is  occupied  by  a  beautiful  water  color 
of  the  buildings  of  the  clock  company,  while  just  above  is  the  handsome 
dial  of  the  clock.  It  is  three  feet  in  diameter  and  indicates  the  days  of 
the  week,  month  and  year,  the  hours,  minutes  and  seconds  of  the  day. 
and  the  moon's  phases  and  the  tides.  Each  figure  represented  is  an 
exact  likeness,  and  the  whole  is  complete  in  every  respect.  At  the  top 
of  the  clock  is  a  handsome  carving  of  the  "  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence "  with  a  reproduction  of  the  famous  old  Liberty  Bell. 

Gems  Rich  and  Rare. 

The  most  conspicuous  exhibits,  situated  as  they  were  at  the  crossing 
of  the  main  aisles,  were  from  New  York.  The  corner  pavilion  was  furn- 
ished and  decorated  by  Tiffany  &  Co.,  the  Tiffany  Glass  and  Decorative 
Company  and  the  Gorham  Manufacturing  Company,  whose  combined 
exhibits  were  estimated  by  the  Department  Chief  to  be  worth  very  nearly 
$5,000,000. 

Tiffany's  exhibit  contained  over  a  thousand  pieces,  some  of  which 
required  two  years  for  preparation.  The  firm  displayed  a  collection  of 
unmounted  precious  and  semi-precious  stones,  including  almost  every 
stone  used  in  fine  arts  manufacture.  The  gems  were  shown  in  the  crude 
state,  cut  and  highly  polished,  the  polished  stones  showing  very  marked 
progress  by  American  lapidaries  within  the  last  few  years.  Brolette, 
roundelle,  faceted,  diamond  beads  and  table  cut  stones  were  features.  A 
great  variety  of  American  pearls  of  unique  form  and  varying  tints  were 
also  of  considerable  interest.  All  of  the  jewelry  was  shown  in  an  ebony 
room  on  a  dais  covered  with  maroon  velvet.  The  designs  were  most 
artistic,  running  from  specimens  of  fourteenth  and  fifteenth  century 
Italian  work,  including  the  Russian,  French,  Egyptian,  Japanese  and 
East  Indian  forms,  down  to  latter  day  designs  of  almost  innumerable 
varieties.  One  piece  alone  contained  a  thousand  diamonds,  a  thousand 


216  MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING. 

emeralds  and  several  yellow  sapphires,  while  two  sets  of  jewelry,  com- 
prising a  tiara,  necklace  and  pendant  brooch  were  credited  with  contain- 
ing two  thousand  stones  in  each  set.  The  sterling  silver  productions 
were  suggestive  of  forms  familiar  to  ancient  civilization  taken  from  the 
Aztecs,  the  Persians,  Egyptians  and  the  Syrians,  all  very  effective.  There 
were  cups  of  all  sorts,  bowls,  trophies  and  special  designs  in  solid  silver  of 

great  value. 

A  Pavilion  of  Solid  Mahogany. 

One  of  the  most  magnificent  and  unique  pavilions  constructed  within 
the  Manufactures  Building  was  that  which  housed  the  exhibit  of  the 
Meriden  Britannia  Company.  This  pavilion  was  little  more  than  20  feet 
square,  and  yet  cost  about  $40,000.  It  was  constructed  of  solid  mahogany 
and  plate  glass.  It  fronted  on  Columbia  Avenue,  opposite  the  pavilion 
erected  by  Germany. 

The  Waltham  Watch  Company  made  a  very  attractive  exhibit,  and 
then  came  a  large  section  occupied  by  the  collective  exhibit  of  cotton, 
silk  and  woollen  goods,  all  fronting  Columbia  Avenue.  These  textile 
exhibits  were  shown  in  peculiar  fashion  by  the  use  of  very  simple  cases 
installed  diagonally  on  the  space  allotted  and  presenting  an  irregularity 
of  aisle  frontage  almost  labyrinthine.  In  the  section  extending  across 
the  north  end,  beginning  at  the  western  side,  there  are  good  pottery  dis- 
plays from  New  Jersey  and  Ohio  manufacturers. 

Fine  Displays. 

There  was  an  excellent  display  by  the  United  States  Potteries'  Asso- 
ciation, with  magnificent  features  from  New  Jersey  and  Ohio  potteries, 
glass  exhibits  from  the  Pennsylvania  and  Indiana  factories,  then  varnish 
and  paint  in  a  group  by  themselves. 

Across  from  the  potteries  exhibit  on  Columbia  Avenue  was  the 
chemical  and  pharmaceutical  group,  magnificent  from  a  technical  stand- 
point and  of  considerable  interest  to  the  general  public  as  showing  what 
can  be  done  in  competition  with  the  great  manufacturers  of  foreign 
countries  installed  in  the  different  government  displays.  This  included 
the  perfumery  group,  in  which  New  Yorkers  held  first  place,  both  by 
the  extent  of  their  display  and  the  beauty  of  the  installation.  Next  to 
them  was  one  of  the  curiosities  of  the  building,  a  thirty  thousand  pound 
piece  of  crysolite  from  the  Pennsylvania  Salt  Manufacturing  Company. 
The  huge  block  was  hollowed  out  and  lit  up  by  incandescent  lights 
inside.  Next,  proceeding  east,  were  the  scales  and  measures,  in  which 
Buffalo  manufacturers  and  New  York  city  men  were  very  conspicuous ; 
then  came  the  wire  goods,  hardware  and  hardware  lines,  in  which  some 


INTERIOR    VIEW    OF    THE    MANUFACTURES    BUILDING. 


(r* 


MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING.  217 

twenty  New  York  firms  had  a  good  representation.  In  the  heating  and 
lighting  apparatus  a  Troy  foundry  was  most  prominent,  and  a  Rochester 
lamp  concern  made  the  most  comprehensive  showing  in  its  section  of  the 

group. 

Sewing  Machines  and  Clothing. 

In  the  gallery  over  this  space  were  the  sewing  machines,  clothing,  uphol- 
stery, toys,  stationery  and  stained  glass.  As  to  sewing  machines,  as 
might  be  expected,  the  New  York  concerns  almost  monopolized  the  best 
locations.  With  unusual  wisdom,  all  of  the  companies  have  agreed  upon 
uniform  treatment  of  their  space,  using  very  simple  pavilions  with  the 
plainest  decorations  and  massing  differences  of  effect  inside  the  pavilions. 
In  clothing,  the  large  manufacturers  of  New  York  and  Chicago  were 
installed  next  to  each  other  and  made  a  very  strong  showing,  considered 
commercially,  though  the  environment  was  not  as  attractive  as  the 
French  manufacturers  of  similar  goods  provided. 

The  last,  and  one  of  the  strongest  groups  in  the  whole  building,  was 
that  devoted  to  manufacturers  of  typewriters  and  stationery,  who  com- 
bined to  utilize  their  space  very  effectively,  with  a  showing  that  repre- 
sented some  millions  of  capital  and  the  products  of  the  best  typewriter 
factories  and  paper  mills  in  the  country. 

Japanese  Exhibits 

The  Japanese,  with  their  $1,500,000  worth  of  exhibits  in  the  Manufac- 
tures Building,  declared  that  they  were  very  willing  to  compete  with  any 
nation  of  the  globe  in  their  most  exquisite  designs  and  elaborate 
processes,  the  result  of  .hereditary  traditions  and  experiences  of  many 
hundred  years,  descending  from  their  forefathers. 

Among  the  Japanese  lacquer  works  shown  there  was  evidence  of  its 
extraordinary  imperviousness  to  the  common  solvents.  Moreover,  the 
specimens  can  be  kept  for  many  hundred  years  without  changing  color 
or  lustre,  which  it  retains  perfectly. 

Among  the  lacquer  work  the  Osaka  Exhibiting  Association  presented 
one  of  the  finest  exhibits.  It  was  a  set  of  parlor  chairs  and  small  parlor 
table  en  suite.  The  value  of  this  set  was  about  $7,000.  The  woods  used 
for  the  works  were  cut  down  over  two  hundred  years  ago  and  have  been 
kept  until  manufactured  for  the  Exposition. 

These  chairs  and  table  were  elaborately  lacquered.  The  color  was 
black,  with  the  flying  cherry  flowers  sprinkled  all  over,  and  in  the  corners 
were  golden  colored  stripes  about  one-fourth  of  an  inch  in  width.  Every 
leg  of  this  set  was  clothed  with  pure  silver,  not  moulded,  of  the  thickness 
of  one-eighth  of  an  inch.  The  upholsterings  of  the  chairs  were  made  of 


218  MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING. 

the  silken  cloth  "  donsu,"  having  the  round  marks  of  the  maple  leaves. 
The  silk  was  as  thick  as  the  canvas  in  common  use  here. 

A  Rare   Bookcase. 

Another  exhibit  made  by  the  Tokio  Exhibiting  Association  worthy  of 
special  mention  was  a  bookcase.  This  was  about  six  feet  in  height,  four 
feet  in  width  and  one  foot  in  thickness.  It  was  commenced  in  .November, 
1891,  and  even  then  it  was  hard  to  complete  the  whole  design  in  time 
for  the  Exposition.  The  wood  used  had  been  cut  down  more  than  one 
hundred  years  ago  and  tested  in  several  ways.  The  pictures  on  the 
bookcase  were  made  by  three  of  the  most  famous  artists  of  Japan. 

A  feature  of  the  exhibit  was  the  porcelain  and  earthen  wares; 
among  these  Mr.  Kozan  Miyagawashad  a  pair  of  vases  of  rare  beauty. 
They  were  valued  at  $5,000.  The  height  of  the  vases  was  three  feet 
each  and  they  were  dark  brown  in  color,  and  the  ornaments  around 
them  were  made  in  imitation  of  famous  and  valuable  old  Japanese  and 
Chinese  wares  of  different  clays.  These  valuable  treasures  were  exactly 
imitated  in  material,  colors  and  everything,  and  all  the  different  wares 
were  put  together  around  the  vases  with  great  difficulty.  The  work  was 
commenced  on  them  more  than  forty  years  ago  by  Mr.  Miyagawas'  father. 

Valuable  Wares. 

The  collections  of  Satsuma  and  hizen  ware  were  almost  invaluable.  The 
exhibitors  have  been  at  work  on  them  ever  since  the  government  pro- 
claimed its  acceptance  of  the  invitation  to  participate  in  the  Exposition. 
One  of  the  Satsuma  vases  alone  was  invoiced  for  customs  entry  at  $  10,000, 
and  a  number  of  fine  pieces,  such  as  umbrella  stands,  flower  bowls 
and  ornamental  vases  were  appraised  among  the  thousands. 

In  addition  to  the  pottery  display  there  was  a  costly  collection  of  silks; 
carvings  in  ivory  and  wood,  dainty  sets  for  "  my  lady's  "  boudoir,  and  a 
thousand  and  one  artistic  screens,  fans,  shawls  and  gowns  in  embroidered 
designs  and  costly  fabrics. 

The  whole  Japanese  exhibit  was  arrayed  in  cases  enclosed  on  all  sides 
with  glass  and  forming  a  great  hollow  square,  of  which  the  quaint  little 
pagoda  on  Columbia  Avenue  was  the  front  and  main  portal. 

The  British  Section. 

In  some  lines  the  British  section  ranks  with  the  best  in  the  department. 
The  burden  of  art  illustration  as  applied  to  manufactures  naturally  fell 
upon  the  makers  of  ceramics  and  mosaics,  and  they  furnished  without 
question  the  finest  group  in  the  British  section.  Possibly  in  some  details 


MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING.  219 

of  design — and  in  the  general  artistic  effect — it  may  be  doubted  whether 
the  Britons  quite  equalled  the  French  with  their  magnificent  collection 
of  Sevres  ware  or  the  Germans  with  their  Imperial  pottery  from  Berlin 
and  Meissen.  However  that  may  be,  the  Doulton,  Coalport,  Cauldon 
and  Worcester  potteries  sent  a  magnificent  display.  The  Royal  Worces- 
ter collection  included  an  extensive  variety  of  both  the  useful  and  orna- 
mental designs.  The  finest  special  pieces  were  of  ivory  porcelain  with 
encrusted  gold  and  colored  decorations,  ivory  and  coral  rose,  Pompeiian 
green,  colored  grounds,  decorative  floor  painting,  lamps,  candelabra, 
jardinieres,  table  decorations,  figures  and  statues  in  stained  ivories,  a 
collection  of  tea,  breakfast  and  dessert  services  in  china  and  Royal 
Worcester  and  vitreous  dinner  sets. 

China  and  Earthenwares. 

The  Doultons  contributed  china  and  earthenware,  the  familiar  Lam- 
beth salt  glazed  Doulton,  marquetry  ware,  Crown  Lambeth  and  decorated 
stained  ware,  ceramic  ware  decorations.  Mention  should  also  be  made 
of  a  great  group  of  "America,"  executed  in  terra  cotta,  for  the  fountain 
in  the  Victoria  House  garden  ;  also  two  terra  cotta  panels  by  George 
Tinworth,  "  The  Prodigal  Son  "  and  "  Pharaoh  at  the  Red  Sea,"  in  the 
vestibule  of  Victoria  House.  Daniell  &  Sons  sent  a  good  display  of  fine 
porcelain  and  earthenware  and  all  the  china  and  glass  for  Victoria  House. 
One  of  the  best  things  in  the  section  was  the  collection  of  tiles  and 
mosaics  of  every  description  for  pavements,  walls,  bathrooms  and  fire- 
places from  Maw  &  Co.  The  student  of  ceramics  had  an  excellent 
opportunity  to  make  interesting  comparisons  between  the  paste,  model- 
ling and  gilt  of  the  Worcester  porcelain  and  the  Doulton  china  and  the 
soft  porcelain  and  vellum  service  of  the  Burslem  potteries,  the  brilliant 
glaze  of  the  Coalport  and  the  rich  ruby  of  the  Maw  factories.  Of  course 
the  exhibit  included  the  coarser  wares.  Some  good  pieces  of  art  work 
in  encaustic  tiles  were  shown,  and  the  Carrara  enamelled  stoneware  also 
commanded  attention. 

Marble  and  stone  monuments  occupied  but  a  small  space,  and  it  is  a 
curious  fact  that  the  best  of  them  came  from  Dublin,  with  a  baptismal 
font  of  Russian  marble,  a  statue  of  the  Redeemer  and  a  Celtic  cross  in 
County  Donegal  sandstone,  copied  from  the  ancient  cross  of  Kilkilispeen, 
County  Kilkenny.  Another  curious  commentary  on  some  branches  of 
English  art  work  was  afforded  by  the  fact  that  only  one  English  firm 
was  represented  in  the  bronze  group,  while  a  number  of  the  East  Indian 
firms  made  beautiful  exhibits  in  the  section  devoted  to  that  colony. 

In  the  carvings  Home  &  Sons,  of  Exeter,  showed  a  carved  rood  beam 


220  MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING. 

for  the  chancel  arch  of  a  church  and  other  samples  of  church  furniture. 
The  Goldsmiths  and  Silversmiths'  Company,  of  London,  assumed  the 
leading  place  in  the  gold  and  silverware  group  with  a  great  collection  of 
jewelery,  diamonds  and  other  gem  ornaments,  dessert  services,  tea,  coffee 
sets,  coffee  trays,  toilet  service,  electrical  plate  cutlery,  ships'  chrono- 
meters, watches,  clocks,  dressing  bags  and  toilet  articles.  John  Wells 
showed  an  interesting  series  of  old  English,  Irish  and  Scotch  silver  plate 
and  historical  objects. 

Choice  Silk  Fabrics. 

Seven  exhibitors  showed  in  the  group  of  silk  fabrics,  and  these  were 
limited  to  silk  carpets,  fancy  silk  gauzes  and  colors  with  costume  of  the 
same  damasks,  brocades,  gold  and  silver  tissues,  velvets  and  embroid- 
eries. It  may  be  that  the  growing  strength  of  the  American  silk  manu- 
factures deprived  the  Englishmen  of  a  reason  for  exhibiting. 

But  if  the  silk  display  was  not  large  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  makers 
of  the  other  textile  fabrics,  cotton,  linen  and  vegetable  fabrics,  afforded 
some  compensation  by  the  extent  and  quality  of  their  collection.  Omit- 
ting East  Indian  exhibitors  there  were  eighteen  large  firms  gathered  in 
this  one  group.  Everything  in  the  way  of  table  and  bed  linen,  linen  lace, 
embroidery  and  the  ornamental  designs  in  linen  was  shown  by  each  of 
the  firms.  A  brief  glance  at  the  classification  showed  that  it  included 
everything  from  counterpanes  and  toilet  covers  to  fishing  thread  and 
salmon  net  twines.  Makers  of  wool  and  wool  net  goods  also  seemed  to 
think  this  their  opportunity  to  secure  an  extension  of  trade  as  well  as 
make  a  display  of  their  power  in  competition  with  the  world.  Both 
Scotland  and  Ireland  showed  their  patriotic  instincts  in  exhibits  of  cheviot 
tweeds,  serges  and  homespun  from  the  Shannon  and  Branbrook  mills, 
Clan  tartans,  Scotch  tweeds,  Highland  cloaks,  plaids,  rugs  and  shawls 
from  the  Argyleshire,  Perthshire  and  Glasgow  factories. 

Rich  Apparel  and  Costumes. 

In  clothing  and  costumes  there  were  sixteen  concerns  represented, 
with  the  usual  variety  of  styles  in  design  and  make  for  everything  that 
pertains  to  the  costuming  of  man  or  woman.  Next  to  these  was  shown 
a  good  display  of  laces,  embroidery  and  trimmings,  most  of  which  came 
from  Nottingham,  Coventry  and  Redditch  factories,  England.  The  most 
interesting  of  the  lace  exhibits  probably  was  taken  out  of  the  Manufac- 
tures Building  and  placed  with  the  Irish  industries  exhibited  in  the 
Midway  Plaisance.  Next  in  order  came  the  groups  devoted  to  hair 
work,  traveling  equipments,  rubber  goods,  toys,  and  manufacturers' 
leather,  which  had  comparatively  little  of  spectacular  interest. 


MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING.  221 

The  manufacturers  of  ordnance  and  ammunition  were  limited  by  insur- 
ance regulations.  Five  firms  were  represented,  and  they  only  by  such 
material  as  may  be  seen  in  any  high  grade  gun  store  in  New  York.  In 
lighting  apparatus  and  appliances  were  seen  what  is  a  comparative  novelty 
to  people  outside  of  the  American  metropolis — the  foot  warmers  and 
invalid  lamps  so  largely  used  by  the  English  in  their  sick  rooms,  and 
which  contribute  no  little  to  the  comfort  both  of  the  patient  and  watcher 

in  night  vigils. 

Treasures  From  India. 

The  display  made  in  the  Indian  section  was  small,  though  very  rare 
and  valuable.  Such  exhibits  as  were  sent  were  evidently  to  be  placed 
on  the  market  and  were  limited  to  the  wares  that  find  ready  sale 
wherever  connoisseurs  may  be  found.  Bombay,  Madras,  Calcutta,  Simla 
Benares,  Ahmedabad,  Naini  Tal,  Bengal,  Agra,  Shahabad,  Dinapore  and 
Delhi  made  the  principal  contributions.  They  sent  Indian  silver  and 
inlaid  work,  gold  and  silver  jewelry,  fabrics  of  silk  and  cotton,  shawls, 
Indian  carpets,  embroidery,  pottery  or  metal  work,  carved  sandal  wood, 
ivory,  carved  blackwood  furniture,  vases  and  trays,  khimkhat,  gown  cloth 
of  pure  gold,  silver  and  silk,  handkerchiefs,  turbans  of  silver,  silk  and 
money  bags,  laces,  fans,  mats,  chowgas,  art  embroidery,  silver  utensils, 
perfumeries,  antiquities  and  fancy  goods.  One  of  the  most  beautiful 
single  exhibits  was  made  by  DeForrest  Lockwood,  of  Ahmedabad  and 
New  York.  It  comprised  a  complete  room  in  carved  teak  wood.  Another 
group  that  interested  a  great  many  people,  particularly  the  children, 
came  from  Rauproyag,  Bengal,  and  was  a  complete  series  of  mechanical 
dolls  representing  the  various  phases  and  costumes  of  Hindoo  life  to 
which  the  general  public  has  little  access. 

Germany's  Fine  Exhibit. 

A  comprehensive  survey  of  the  installation  of  manufactures  made  by 
the  government  of  Germany  and  exhibitors  under  its  jurisdiction  showed 
in  a  marked  way  the  painstaking  methods  and  scientific  accuracy  that 
characterize  that  people  in  all  their  undertakings.  It  might  be  said  of  the 
German  section  that  it  showed  more  sentiment,  allied  with  the  greatest 
energy  and  public  spirit,  than  any  one  of  the  foreign  government  sections 
in  the  building.  Herr  Wermuth,  the  Imperial  German  Commissioner, 
unhesitatingly  attributed  the  success  of  this  display,  and,  indeed,  of  all 
others  shown  by  Germany  at  the  Exposition,  to  the  personal  interest  and 
co-operation  of  the  Emperor  William.  The  representation  of  the  most 
prominent  industries  of  the  Empire  was  most  satisfactory.  The  artistic 
side  was  emphasized  by  the  wares  from  the  royal  potteries  at  Berlin  and 


222  MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING. 

Meissen,  by  the  trophies  from  the  Hohenzollern  Museum,  which  com- 
prise the  finest  specimens  of  the  engravers'  art  in  Germany,  and  by  the 
extensive  display  of  jewelry  and  wrought  gold  and  silverware.  The 
tapestries  and  furniture  from  the  Bavarian  palace  and  Bavaria*  artisans 
showed  the  possibilities  of  art  in  decoration. 

Germany  occupied  the  northwestern  corner  where  the  two  main  aisles 
met.  The  front  and  side  facades  of  the  building  of  the  pavilion  were 
broken  by  a  tower  at  either  end  of  the  space  along  the  main  aisle,  sur- 
mounted by  the  imperial  eagles.  Entrance  to  the  court  was  under  three 
great  arches  of  wrought  iron  made  by  Ambruster,  of  Frankfort,  in  artistic 
design,  while  in  the  centre  of  the  pavilion  rose  another  tower  with  the 
great  statue  of  Germania,  which  is  to  crown  the  Reichstag.  The  court 
was  further  beautified  by  a  fountain  with  a  giant  figure  of  Neptune.  The 
decoration  of  the  pavilion  proper  was  in  plaster  of  Paris,  with  groups 
of  statuary  on  either  side  of  the  entrance  to  the  court,  and  ornate  designs 
along  both  aisles.  The  decoration  throughout  was  thoroughly  harmo- 
nious and  pleasing. 

Bavarian  Art  Industry. 

In  installation,  as  in  decoration,  the  German  Commission  followed  a 
carefully  preconceived  plan  to  its  ultimate  conclusion.  The  most  con- 
spicuous place  was  given  to  the  Bavarian  group  representing  Bavarian 
art  industry.  It  was  situated  at  the  corner  of  the  main  aisles,  with  an 
entrance  from  the  side  aisle,  and  occupied  the  half  of  a  large  salon  deco- 
rated throughout  with  gobelin  tapestries  from  the  palace  of  the  late 
Bavarian  King,  and  furniture  in  designs  of  the  eighteenth  century.  On 
the  side  aisle,  in  an  equally  conspicuous  group,  was  the  section  devoted 
to  wares  from  the  royal  Berlin  potteries  at  Meissen,  in  Saxony,  and  the 
royal  Prussian  manufactory  at  Scharlottenberg.  Perhaps  the  most  beau- 
tiful feature  of  this  exhibit — certainly  the  most  striking — was  a  single 
painting  on  porcelain,  running  the  whole  length  of  the  room  devoted  to 
the  exhibit,  fifty  feet,  and  reaching  a  height  of  about  four  feet. 

The  Royal  Prussian  factory  was  also  given  a  space  on  the  main  aisle, 
where  was  shown  a  great  collection  of  table  ware,  magnificent  vases,  some 
of  them  sixteen  feet  high,  candelabra  and  other  wares,  all  painted  and 
intended  to  show  the  supreme  development  of  ceramic  art.  While  the 
Meissen  factory  is  the  older  and  more  famous  of  the  two  factories,  the 
display  of  royal  Prussian  wares  was  calculated  to  shov^  tremendous  pro- 
gress in  a  very  few  years,  and  to  compare  very  favorably  with  its  older 
rival.  The  Meissen  wares  were  more  conspicuously  placed  that  the  Prus- 
sian, but  that  was  a  matter  of  choice  with  them,  because  their  represen- 
tatives believed  the  light  would  be  better  in  the  space  allotted  to  them- 


MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING.  223 

Next  to  the  Saxony  wares  was  a  fine  collection  of  gold,  silver,  and 
jewelry,  which  embrace  specimens  of  inlaid  figures,  wrought  silver  and 
wrought  gold,  cups,  brooches,  etc.,  etc. 

Historic    Souvenirs. 

More  interesting  than  these,  however,  and  of  a  greater  value  in  a  his- 
torical sense,  were  the  trophies  from  the  Hohenzollern  Museum,  loaned 
to  the  State  Department  of  the  United  States  Government  for  exhibition 
in  this  section.  They  were  sent  over  in  the  custody  of  Captain  Rogers, 
of  the  United  States  Navy,  and  the  State  Department  assumed  the  res- 
ponsibility for  their  safe  keeping  and  safe  return  at  the  close  of  the 
Fair.  Some  idea  of  their  tremendous  value  historically  may  be  inferred 
from  the  fact  that  Von  Moltke's  baton  as  Field  Marshal,  which  was  given 
him  at  the  close  of  the  war  of  1866,  and  carried  through  the  war  of  1870, 
was  in  the  collection,  as  well  as  the  case  for  the  baton  presented  by  the 
general  staff  at  the  close  of  the  Franco-Prussian  war.  Bismarck  was  rep- 
resented by  twenty  pieces,  consisting  of  engraved  pieces  presented  by 
Berlin,  Cologne,  Augsburg,  Leipsic,  and  other  German  seats,  and  the 
magnificent  table  service  given  him  by  the  old  Kaiser  Wilhelm  on  the 
occasion  of  his  Prime  Minister's  seventieth  birthday.  The  Bismarck  col- 
lection alone  was  insured  for  $60,000. 

There  were  trophies  from  the  Emperor  himself,  such  as  the  yacht 
medals,  prizes  given  in  competitions  of  various  kinds,  some  relics 
of  the  Emperor  Frederick  loaned  by  the  Empress  Dowager,  a  number  of 
valuable  drinking  cups  and  trophies  from  Prince  Henry,  brother  of  the 
present  Emperor,  and  a  series  of  invaluable  decorations  conferred  upon  the 
old  Kaiser,  the  Emperor  Frederick,  and  the  present  Emperor.  Altogether 
there  were  seventy-eight  of  these,  valued  at  $150,000,  and  they  were 
accepted  as  the  finest  possible  collective  representation  of  the  jeweler's 
and  engraver's  art. 

Along  the  front  of  the  pavilions  on  the  main  aisle  were  cabinets  illus- 
trating the  different  styles  and  tastes  in  furniture  decoration  of  the  differ- 
ent provinces.  These  were  from  North  Germany,  Schleswig-Holstein. 
The  Rhine  Provinces,  Baden  and  Bavaria,  were  also  represented. 

Textile    Fabrics. 

In  the  smaller  rooms  beneath  the  arches  of  the  gallery  under  which 
the  space  extended  were  grouped  bijou  cabinets  containing  smaller 
detailed  exhibits,  such  as  brasses,  clocks  and  watches.  Between  this  and 
the  front  pavilion  in  the  interior  of  the  court  were  grouped  the  textile 
fabrics.  On  one  side  \yas  3  co.mprehensive  display  from  Crefeld,  incluq)- 


224  MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING. 

ing  fabrics  showing  every  stage  of  progress  in  the  manufacture  from  the 
half  finished  silk  to  the  embroidery  material.  Our  silk  was  excluded 
because  it  was  intended  to  show  only  the  processes  of  manufacture  after 
the  raw  silk  or  half  finished  product  reaches  Germany.  Velvets  and 
plushes  were  also  well  represented,  the  whole  product  coming  from  the 
Crefeld  district,  which  was  taken  as  the  best  representative  of  the  indus- 
try in  Germany.  Most  of  the  space  devoted  to  cotton  and  woollen  goods 
was  occupied  by  the  factories  of  Saxony,  which  sent  all  sorts  of  embroi- 
dery and  laces  and  finished  products  in  every  form  possible.  They  also 
took  the  precaution  to  send  an  artist  with  the  exhibit  to  see  that  it  was 
effectively  installed. 

Industrial  Exhibits. 

What  are  known  as  the  industrial  groups  were  massed  about  the  cor- 
ner of  the  aisle  at  the  western  entrance  of  the  Manufactures  Building. 
They  were  what  the  German  Commission  denominated  "  export  groups." 
The  most  complete  single  group  in  the  section  was  from  the  chemical 
manufactures.  It  included  a  full  representation  of  all  the  manufactured 
products  from  every  large  commercial  laboratory  in  the  Empire.  Next  to 
the  chemical  group  were  the  new  Nuremburg  and  Furth  installations, 
which  were,  as  might  have  been  expected,  almost  altogether  of  the  lighter 
manufactures — looking- glasses,  toys  and  fancy  articles.  Sonnenberg,  in 
Thuringia,  also  had  a  good  showing  in  the  toy  department.  Germany, 
like  all  the  other  foreign  nations,  acquired  title  to  the  space  in  the  gallery 
immediately  over  its  main  floor  exhibits,  and  here  were  placed  the  single 
exhibitors  who  did  not  properly  come  under  large  collective  groups. 
The  one  very  beautiful  exhibit  was  the  series  of  stained  glass  windows 
by  notable  artists  of  the  Empire,  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  have  a 
very  effective  western  light,  adding  considerably  to  the  beauty  of  the 
gallery  installation. 

Decorations  in  the  Belgium  Pavilion. 

Belgium's  pavilion  fronts  on  Columbia  Avenue,  and  the  main  entrance 
is  through  a  great  arch  fifty  feet  high,  draped  with  rich  tapestries  and  sur- 
mounted by  the  national  colors.  On  either  side  are  smaller  arched 
entrances,  separated  by  marble  pillars.  Directly  in  front  of  and  within 
the  main  entrance  stands  a  bronze  statue  of  Leonidas,  representing  him 
at  Thermopylae.  It  was  cast  by  the  lost  wax  process,  which  signifies  that 
only  one  statue  can  exist,  since  the  mold  of  wax  is  destroyed  in  the  cast- 
ing. The  figure  is  marvelously  energetic,  but  too  small  to  show  to  good 
advantage  in  the  high  and  broad  space  in  which  it  stands. 

Belgium  prides  herself  first  on  her  laces,  which  are  marvelously  deli- 


MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING. 


225 


cate  and  beautiful.  There  are  Mechlin  round  point,  Valenciennes,  black 
Belgian  thread,  dentelle,  Louis  XV.,  Venetian  point,  point  de  Bruges, 
point  applique,  duchesse,  and  as  many  other  kinds  of  lace  as  ever  were 
known  to  the  modern  world,  made  up  in  collars,  handkerchiefs,  trim- 
mings, covers,  fans,  and  even  a  bride's  veil.  It  is  a  sufficiently  explicit 


AN  ARTISTIC  EXHIBIT  IN  MANUFACTURES  BUILDING. 

description  of  the  last  to  say  that  its  price  at  home  is   75,000    francs,  or 
$15,000. 

Next  in  importance,  in  Belgium's  mind,  is  the  exhibit  of  porcelain,  of 
which  there  are  numerous  beautiful  specimens.  Much  attention  is  given 
to  the  display  of  native  marbles.  In  one  exhibit  there  is  shown  an 
entrance  to  a  hall,  a  staircase,  mantel,  dado,  paneling,  semi-Corinthian 

15 


226  MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING. 

pillars,  an  elaborate  inlaid  floor  and  beautiful  chimney  pieces.  The  white 
marbles  are  good  rivals  of  the  celebrated  Parian  marbles,  and  the  blocks, 
delicately  carved  and  remarkably  pure  in  color,  are  rare  specimens  in 
this  part  of  the  world. 

Some  Wonderful  Specimens  of  Skill. 

Native  plate  glass  manufacturers  feel  like  hiding  their  products  when 
they  see  a  plate  some  12  by  18  feet  in  size  and  an  inch  thick,  which  the 
Belgians  show.  It  is  apparently  without  the  least  flaw,  so  clear  that  visi- 
tors would  scarcely  even  see  it  without  a  label. 

The  Belgians  are  such  lovers  of  the  chase  that  they  have  brought  the 
art  of  gunmaking  to  a  high  degree  of  perfection.  If  they  make  lace  that 
costs  a  great  deal  of  money,  they  also  manufacture  guns  that  almost  any 
person  can  afford  to  buy.  A  large  assortment  is  on  exhibition,  and  a  good 
one  among  them  can  be  bought  at  home  for  $i.  This  is  warranted  to 
kill  anything  worth  hunting. 

Belgium  raises  no  wool  worth  mentioning,  but  she  imports  a  great  deal 
of  it  from  the  Argentine  states,  and  manufactures  some  of  the  finest  cloths 
ever  woven  in  a  loom.  An  extensive  exhibit  of  textile  fabrics  is  shown, 
every  piece  of  which  was  sold  to  an  enterprising  Bostonian  immediately 
on  arrival.  The  processes  of  spinning  are  fully  shown. 

Hammered  iron-work  is  quite  the  fashion  in  foreign  countries,  an 
elaborate  example  of  which  is  found  in  the  great  iron  door  in  front  of 
Germany's  pavilion.  The  Belgians  have  not  exerted  themselves  to  make 
anything  ponderous  in  this  line,  but  they  have  produced  a  few  specimens 
of  small  size  that  are  unequaled  for  intricacy  and  delicacy.  One  repro- 
duces the  branch  of  a  tree,  with  flowers,  birds  and  leaves  complete  in  the 

smallest  detail. 

Pianos  Two  Hundred  Years  Old. 

Among  the  rare  exhibits  is  the  Steinert  collection  of  musical 
instruments.  Mr.  Steinert  is  a  resident  of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  but 
his  treasures  are  known  wherever  music  is  studied.  They  were  exhibited 
at  Vienna  and  attracted  general  attention  by  their  completeness  and  by 
the  fact  that  the  instruments  were  in  perfect  condition  for  use.  The 
owner  gave  daily  recitals  at  the  Exhibition,  and  was  afterward  invited  to 
repeat  his  program  in  the  various  capitals  of  Europe.  Chief  among  the 
collections  are  the  harpsichords  and  clavichords,  made  iifthe  seven- 
teenth and  eighteenth  centuries.  All  of  the  instruments  are  finished  in 
the  most  artistic  fashion. 

At  the  north  end  of  the  west  gallery  in  the  department  of  Liberal 
Arts  are  the  exhibits  of  the  leading  American  publishers.  The  booth 


MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING.  227 

inside  is  fitted  up  as  a  library,  with  copies  of  all  the  firms'  publications 
neatly  arranged  on  shelves.  An  open  fire-place,  with  antique-cushioned 
settees  around  it,  a  round  table,  with  comfortable  looking  chairs,  and 
several  busts  of  eminent  men  artistically  arranged  around  the  tops  of  the 
bookcases,  give  the  room  the  air  of  a  comfortable  library. 

A  specialty  is  made  of  the  works  of  the  great  American  authors, 
Holmes,  '  Longfellow,  Emerson,  Hawthorne,  Whittier,  and  Lowell. 
Busts  of  these  celebrated  authors,  together  with  that  of  Mrs.  Harriet 
Beecher  Stowe,  are  arranged  around  the  top  of  the  bookcases,  and  sample 
copies  of  their  works  in  uniform  cloth  binding. 

In  the  Liberal  Arts  department  forty  collegiate  institutions  are  repre- 
sented. The  amount  of  space  in  this  department  assigned  for  educational 
purposes  alone  is  225,000  feet ;  100,000  feet  are  assigned  for  commercial 
exhibits.  In  the  Anthropological  Building  30,000  feet  are  assigned.  In 
addition  to  the  collegiate  and  commercial  exhibits  in  the  Liberal  Arts 
department  there  are  exhibits  from  forty  different  states.  A  series  of 
thirty-five  screens  on  the  west  balcony  illustrates  the  work  of  the  art 
schools  of  the  country,  and  there  are  ten  or  twelve  exhibits  of  the  manual 
training  schools.  One  of  the  most  interesting  of  this  series  is  from 
Hampton,  Va-  Near  by  is  the  booth  containing  the  industrial  exhibit 
of  the  Indian  school  at  Carlylef-Pa. 

The  educational  exhibit  from  abroad  is  beyond  the  expectations  of  the 
directory.  The  Minister  of  Education  of  the  German  Empire  has  con- 
tributed most  liberally.  Ten  thousand  square  feet  were  assigned  for  this 
exhibit,  but  owing  to  the  exhibit  being  much  larger  than  was  anticipated 
the  booth  of  the  German  Empire  had  an  additional  story  placed  on 
it,  thus  giving  it  what  is  equal  to  20,000  square  feet.  The  other  foreign 
countries  represented  in  the  educational  line  are  Russia,  Austria, 
England,  Brazil,  Italy,  Japan,  New  South  Wales  and  Mexico. 

• 

Catholic  School  Exhibit. 

On  the  same  balcony  with  the  Carlyle  exhibit  is  one  which  will  interest 
the  American  public.  This  exhibit  is  in  charge  of  Brother  Maurelian 
and  covers  25,000  square  feet,  divided  into  three  sections,  one  for  the 
diocese  of  Chicago,  one  for  the  dioceses  of  the  United  States  outside  01 
Chicago,  and  the  third  for  the  schools  of  Europe.  One  thousand 
Catholic  schools  in  the  United  States  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
in  Europe  are  represented.  The  European  schools  are  represented  by 
France,  Spain  and  England  and  the  St.  Nicholas  School  of  Paris.  The 
University  of  Notre  Dame  sends  a  collection  from  its  museum  and 
library  and  a  valuable  collection  of  books  relating  to  historical  events  in 


228  MANUFACTURES  AND  LIBERAL  ARTS  BUILDING. 

Catholic  history.  The  American  Catholic  Historical  Society  of  Phila- 
delphia sends  its  valuable  collections,  which  it  has  taken  years  of  labor 
and  research  to  collect. 

Natural  History  Display. 

.  Around  the  gallery  are  arranged  the  exhibits  of  natural  history, 
including  stuffed  birds  and  mammals,  taxidermy,  birds'  egg-shells,  insects 
and  fossils.  The  largest  exhibit  to  be  seeji  is  that  known  as  Ward's 
Natural  Science  Establishment,  a  complete  museum  of  natural  history. 
The  State  exhibits  are  made  up  of  the  mammals  and  the  land  and  fresh 
water  shells  of  New  York  and  the  birds  of  Pennsylvania,  Missouri  and 
Ohio  and  mammals  of  Maine  and  North  Dakota. 

Here,  also,  is  the  exhibit  of  general  natural  history  by  the  Agassiz 
Association  and  a  display  of  mounted  birds  and  mammals  and  general 
taxidermy  by  private  individuals.  The  northern  end  of  the  gallery  is 
given  over  to  the  laboratory  of  physical  anthropology  and  neurology. 
On  the  west  side  of  the  gallery  are  the  historical  exhibits,  comprising  a 
large  collection  of  ancient  fire  arms,  coins  and  postage  stamps.  The 
outdoor  exhibit  is  composed  of  live  Indians  from  the  northern  portion  of 
Vancouver  Island,  a  few  from  the  Iroquois  tribe,  an  Esquimau  family, 
three  families  from  Penobscot,  who  bring  their  wigwams  with  them, 
Navajos  and  Apaches.  The  mat  house  of  the  Winnebago,  the  buffalo 
hide  tepee  of  the  Sioux,  the  sod  house  of  the  Omaha  and  several  other 
types  of  habitation  are  set  up  on  the  grounds.  There  are  representatives 
of  the  Flatheads,  Black  Feet,  Pend  de  Oreille,  Nez  Perces  and  Tootenai, 
all  of  whom  appear  in  their  tepees.  From  South  America  are  repre- 
sentatives of  three  tribes  from  British  Guiana.  All  these  tribes  are 
engaged  in  their  native  manufactures  of  pottery  making,  basket  making 
and  other  occupations  illustrative  of  their  customs. 


M 


CHAPTER  X. 
Machinery  Hall. 

ACHINERY  Hall  was  a  palace  of  the  mechanic  arts.  Next 
to  the  Building  of  Manufactures  and  Liberal  Arts  it  was  to 
the  majority  of  people  the  most  interesting  structure  on  the 
grounds.  It  was  especially  constructed  for  exhibiting  machi- 
nery in  motion,  the  power  for  this  purpose  being  supplied  from  an 
adjoining  building. 

Machinery  Hall,  as  it  was  populary  called,  furnished  a  floor  space  of 
\7]/2  acres.  Its  dimensions  were  846  by  492  feet ;  to  this  must  be  added 
the  Annex,  490  by  550  feet,  and  the  Machinery  Power  House,  490  by 
461  feet.  There  was  also  a  spacious  Machine  Shop.  The  Power  House, 
Machine  Shop  and  Pumping  Works  were  included  in  one  structure. 

The  building  had  three  arched  trusses,  while  in  the  interior  there  were 
three  naves  crossed  midway  by  a  great  transept.  As  the  original 
intention  was  to  sell  this  building  for  railway  purposes,  it  was  so  con- 
structed that  the  trusses  could  be  taken  down  and  used  for  railroad 
train-houses.  The  main  building  appeared  to  have  three  divisions  placed 
side  by  side. 

Extending  around  the  main  hall  inside  were  two  galleries  and  two 
exterior  arcades  with  a  width  of  fifty  feet.  The  main  entrance  was  75 
feet  high,  located  in  the  centre  of  the  north  side  and  opposite  the  south 
entrance^of  the  Administration  Building.  This  entrance  had  a  semi- 
circular portico  with  Corinthian  columns  sixty  feet  in  height.  The  idea 
of  ornamentation  was  not  lost  sight  of,  and  so  the  portico  was  furnished 
with  a  dome  and  balustrade,  while  above  each  column  was  a  statue. 

Pavilions  were  built  at  the  corners  of  the  main  structure  fifty  feet 
square  and  surmounted  by  domes.  One  of  the  main  features  was  the 
'east  portico  facing  the  Agricultural  Building,  which  stood  across  the 
canal.  This  portico  was  square,  with  Corinthian  columns  and  a  pedi- 
ment containing  an  emblematic  design  in  relief,  in  which  Chicago  was 
represented  as  introducing  to  the  nations  a  company  of  inventors  and 
mechanics  who  were  showing  their  various  mechanical  achievements. 
The  exterior  of  the  building  was  covered  with  "  staff,"  which  was  a 
composition  of  plaster  of  Paris,  Portland  cement  and  jute  from  New 
Zealand.  This  material  was  used  in  the  construction  of  nearly  all  the 
buildings,  for  the  reason  that  it  can  be  moulded  into  any  shape,  while  at 

229 


230 


MACHINERY  HALL. 


the  same  time  it  possesses  great  strength.     It  is  easily  colored  in  imita- 
tion of  marble,  and  this  circumstance  gave  to  the  great  cluster  of  build- 
ings at  Jackson  Park  the  name  of  the  "  White  City." 
Celebrated  Symbolic  Figures. 

On  the  top  of  Machinery  Hall  were  placed  eight  symbolic  figures  of 
immense  size.  One  represented  Victory  holding  a  wreath  in  her  hand, 
the  symbol  of  triumph.  Another  was  typical  of  Fire,  and  the  figure 
was  represented  as  holding  in  her  right  hand  thunderbolts,  and  in  her 
left  a  burning  brand,  the  one  suggesting  the  fire  of  the  skies  and  the 
other  the  fire  of  earth.  Above  the  windows  were  spaces  occupied  by 
cherubs  and  curious  little  genii  holding  in  their  hands  the  tools  and 
implements  of  the  various  mechanical  industries. 

Spires  rising  to  a  height  of  102  feet  surmounted  the  two  open  towers 
above  each  of  the  porticoes.  The 
Columbus  idea  was  shown  in  the 
architecture  which  was  Spanish  in  its 
features,  presenting  beautiful  arches 
and  columns  in  double  rows  upon 
which  were  displayed  as  decorations 
the  arms  of  Spain  and  the  portrait 
of  Columbus.  Immense  pieces  of 
machinery  were  scattered  throughout 
the  building,  not  the  least  interesting 
of  which  was  the  elevated  traveling 
crane  located  in  each  of  the  three  naves 
for  moving  machinery.  These  cranes 
were  also  used  for  transporting  visitors 
fromoneend'ofthebuildingtotheother. 

Machinery  Hall  contained  within  its  spacious  walls  the  most  remark- 
able triumphs  of  invention.  It  would  require  a  skilled  machinist  to 
understand  many  of  the  intricate  and  complicated  devices  there  exhi- 
bited. The  exhibits  comprised  inventions  of  world-wide  fame,  and  were 
studied  by  throngs  of  people  constantly  expressing  their  amazement  at 
the  achievements  of  mechanical  ingenuity.  Not  only  was  the  visitor 
impressed  with  the  great  variety  of  machinery,  embracing  all  sorts  of 
inventions  for  all  sorts  of  purposes,  but  the  mechanical  construction  of 
it,  its  accuracy  and  perfection  of  detail  were  none  the  less  apparent. 
There  were  machines  which  seemed  to  be  able  to  do  almost  everything 
except  talk.  What  an  amount  of  thought,  patient  contrivance,  steady 
and  intricate  working  of  brain  and  hand,  were  represented  in  this  marve- 
lous building ! 


CHRISTOPHER  COLUMBUS. 


MACHINERY  HALL.  231 

The  artisans  of  Europe  and  America  here  studied  that  which  con- 
cerns them  most — the  development  of  labor-saving  devices.  Capital  and 
labor  here  found  the  true  ground  of  mutual  confidence,  the  one  in  dimin- 
ished cost  of  production,  the  other  in  higher  wages  as  the  result  of 
skillful  training  in  the  mechanical  arts. 

In  the  great  Machinery  Hall  every  labor-saving  device  known  to 
modern  science  was  represented.  The  development  of-  motors  for  the 
transmission  of  power  was  illustrated  by  the  most  magnificent  engines, 
boilers  and  pumps  ever  constructed.  The  modern  science  of  fire  fight- 
ing had  its  demonstration  in  every  variety  of  fire  engines,  hose  carts, 
escapes,  stand-pipes  and  chemical  apparatus  that  has  been  evolved  by 
the  brain  of  veteran  fire  fighters.  Machinists'  small  tools  and  the 
immense  steam  hammers  and  trip  hammers  for  forging  and  working 
metals  were  shown  in  all  the  more  recent  devices.  Wonderful  machines 
for  the  manufacture  of  textile  fabrics  and  clothing  were  shown. 

Marvelous  appliances  for  turning  wood  and  all  kinds  of  steam,  electric 
and  hand  power  sawing  and  planing  machines  were  among  the  exhibits. 
The  most  recent  inventions  in  typesetting  machines,  printing,  stamping 
and  embossing  and  book-making  machines  were  shown.  Lithography, 
zincography  and  color  printing,  photo-mechanical  and  other  mechanical 
processes  of  illustrating  were  represented  in  a  large  variety  of  modern 
inventions.  In  machinery  for  working  stone,  clay  and  other  minerals, 
for  the  preparation  of  food,  and  for  use  in  all  the  mechanical  arts  the 
machinery  exhibit  was  prodigal  in  its  displays. 

Marks  of  the  World's  Progress. 

The  progress  of  invention  is  the  progress  of  the  world  to  the  popular 
mind.  Mechanical  arts  have  developed  in  this  century,  and  especially 
in  the  latter  half,  not  by  strides,  but  by  leaps  and  bounds.  Hard  work 
has  been  relegated  to  the  effete  nations.  Europe  and  America  have 
substituted  brain  for  brawn  in  the  application  of  machinery  to  all  the 
wants  of  human  production.  Between  these  two  countries  there  is  a 
constantly  growing  rivalry  in  the  creation  of  new  devices  for  saving 
manual  labor.  In  the  mammoth  corridors  of  Machinery  Hall  at  the 
World's  Fair  the  zenith  of  nineteenth  century  progress  in  the  mechanical 
arts  was  reached,  and  the  artisans  of  every  civilized  clime  learned  some- 
thing of  practical  benefit  from  the  unfolded  genius  of  the  world's 
greatest  inventors. 

The  department  of  machinery  was  also  a  live  exhibit,  differing  in  this 
respect  from  almost  every  other  department.  Within  its  massive  walls 
was  the  ceaseless  hum  of  machinery  in  motion.  From  the  leviathan 


232 


MACHINERY  HALL. 


power  plant  at  the  south  of  the  main  building  radiated  the  energy  that 
set  in  motion  the  wheels  of  the  entire  Exposition.  Within  Machinery 
Hall  itself  miles  of  shafting,  pulleys  and  belting  connected  with  the 
thousands  of  exhibits  that  were  in  motion  every  day  during  the  Fair. 

The  fascination  of  moving  machinery  is  more  than  an  attraction  to  the 
skilled  artisan  merely.  It  draws  the  general  public,  and,  as  at  the 
Centennial  Exhibition  in  1876,  Machinery  Hall  was  the  center  of  the 
largest  and  most  continuous  crowds.  Its  situation  on  the  grounds  was 
favorable  to  its  being  a  popular  display,  as  it  was  near  the  main  entrance 
and  immediately  adjacent  to  the  great  railroad  terminal  within  the 
grounds. 

Surprises  of  Invention. 

The  Centennial  Exposition  created  an  epoch  in  machinery  exhibits  at 
international  fairs.  Compared  with  the  Centennial  Exposition  the 

machinery  exhi- 
bit  of  the 
World's  Fair 
was  full  of  sur- 
prises. While 
the  area  for  ex- 
hibits of  machin- 
ery was  incre- 
ased —  it  was 
about  fourteen 
acres  at  the  Cen- 
tennial  and 
about  sixteen 

acres  at  Chicago — the  amount  of  available  space  for  domestic  exhibits 
was  somewhat  less.  At  the  Centennial  there  were  337,000  square  feet 
devoted  to  American  exhibits.  At  the  World's  Fair  the  space  given 
to  American  exhibitors  was  only  about  220,000  square  feet. 

But  while  domestic  exhibits  were  curtailed  in  space,  the  World's  Fair 
management  was  generous  to  foreign  exhibitors.  At  Philadelphia  the 
various  foreign  governments  occupied,  all  told,  about  83,000  square  feet 
of  space.  At  Jackson  Park  they  had  a  gross  space  of  about  175,000 
square  feet. 

Other  comparisons  with  1876  are  still  more  striking.  At  the  Centen- 
nial Machinery  Hall  the  main  power  plant  was  a  Corliss  engine,  50  by 
50  feet.  At  Jackson  Park  there  was  an  electric  power  plant  of  20,000 
horse-power,  covering  an  area  of  1 1 2,000  square  feet.  At  the  Centennial 
there  were  a  number  of  annexes  outside  of  the  regular  machinery 


FIGURE  ON  BRIDGE  OVER  THE  LAGOON. 


MACHINERY  HALL.  233 

exhibit  whtch  contained  many  exhibits  of  machinery  in  operation.  At 
Jackson  Park  the  entire  machinery  exhibit  was  massed  together,  and  the 
limited  space  made  it  a  more  select  exhibit  than  that  of  any  previous 
fair.  Between  three  and  four  hundred  applicants  for  space  were  turned 
away,  although  their  exhibits  would  have  been  more  than  up  to  the  1876 

standard. 

Selection  of  Exhibits. 

While  the  area  for  mechanical  exhibits  at  the  World's  Fair  was 
limited,  the  general  display,  taking  all  the  groups,  showed  not  only  a 
more  advanced  character  of  machinery  but  finer  workmanship  in  details. 
The  number  of  firms  making  the  same  kind  of  machinery  has  vastly 
increased  since  1876,  and  the  competition  is  greater.  In  1876  there 
was  only  one  firm  besides  Corliss,  in  America,  manufacturing  those  great 
engines  that  were  then  a  marvel.  To-day  there  are  nearly  sixty  firms 
making  them.  In  1876  there  were  only  four  or  five  firms  making  steam 
pumps,  including  Worthington,  Knowles,  Blake  and  others,  and  these 
were  mostly  east  of  the  Alleghanies.  To-day  there  are  hundreds  of 
firms  making  steam  pumps  in  almost  every  State  and  Territory.  Chief 
Robinson  had  applications  from  seventy-four  pump  builders  for  space, 
of  which  forty-three  assignments  were  made. 

The  comparison  of  progress  is  true  as  to  woodworking  and  machine 
tools  and  printing  presses.  The  average  space  for  individual  exhibits 
at  the  Centennial  was  244  square  feet.  At  the  World's  Fair  the  assign- 
ments of  space  were  less  in  number,  but  the  space  to  each  exhibitor  was 
greater,  nearly  an  average  of  500  square  feet.  All  the  leading  machines 
that  were  entered  at  the  World's  Fair  were  much  larger  than  those  made 
in  1876,  and  their  variety  was  greater.  To  make  a  comparative  exhibit 
between  them  a  much  larger  space  is  required.  The  largest  exhibits  at 
Philadelphia  occupied  from  1,200  to  1,600  square  feet.  At  the  World's 
Fair  Machinery  Hall  the  largest  exhibits  occupied  from  2,000  to  3,000 

square  feet. 

Foreign  Machinists  Stand  High. 

The  general  plan  of  the  World's  Fair  machinery  exhibit  was  simple. 
The  whole  exhibit  was  on  the  floor  of  the  main  building  and  annexes. 
The  only  gallery  space  was  given  up  to  restaurants,  offices  and 
lavatories.  Foreign  governments  had  the  choicest  location  on  the 
main  floor.  The  foreign  exhibits  began  with  those  of  Great  Britain  and 
Canada  at  the  east  end  of  the  building  and  extended  west  nearly  its  full 
length. 

In  the  German  exhibit  the  Siemans  &  Halske  Company,  of  Berlin, 
constructed  a  1,000  horse  power  engine  and  electric  dynamo  which 


234 


MACHINERY  HALL. 


furnished  additional  light  for  the  Machinery  Building.  The  countries 
from  which  the  most  prominent  foreign  exhibits  came  are  Canada,  Bel- 
gium, Great  Britain,  Mexico,  Russia,  France,  Spain,  New  South  Wales, 
Italy,  Sweden,  Austria  and  Brazil. 

The  domestic  exhibits  were  from  firms  or  individuals,  there  being  no 
groupings  by  States  in  this  department.  The  domestic  exhibits  were 
located  in  the  annex  and  a  portion  of  the  west  end  of  the  main  building. 
They  were  grouped,  as  far  as  possible,  in  classes,  so  that  a  visitor  in  one 
part  of  the  building  might  see  in  a  single  department  the  principal 

devices  in  which  he  was  interested. 
Thus  the  machine  tools,  the  machinery 
for  fabrics  and  clothing,  the  wood- 
working machines,  the  printing  and 
type-setting  machines  and  all  the 
other  special  classes  of  machinery 
were  located  by  themselves. 

Of  the  unique  exhibits  in  Machin- 
ery Hall  it  would  take  a  volume  to 
tell  the  story.  There  was  a  superb 
display  of  machines  for  the  manu- 
facture of  paper  boxes  and  kindred 
exhibits.  In  the  manufacture  of  textile 
fabrics  the  cotton,  woolen  and  silk 
looms  were  of  wondrous  variety  and 
nicety  of  detail.  The  leading  exhibit- 
ors in  this  department  were  the 
Knowles  loom  works,  the  Lowell 
machine  shops  and  the  Crompton 
loom  works.  These  concerns  showed 
the  actual  process  of  making  cotton 

MEDAL  PRESENTED  TO  THE  DESIGNERS  and    WOOlen    goods.       Silk      looms     in 
OF  THE  EXPOSITION    BUILDINGS.        fu]l    operation      were    shown      by    the 

Atwood  Machine  Company,  Schaum  &  Ullinger  and  others,  the  machines 
being  operated  by  the  Phoenix  Manufacturing  Company,  of  Philadelphia. 

There  was  a  fine  display  of  Jacquard  looms,  which  wove  intricate 
designs  of  the  World's  Fair  buildings  and  portraits  of  prominent  men 
on  silk.  J.  J.  Mannion,  of  Pittsburg,  and  John  Best  &  Co.,  of  Paterson, 
N.  J.,  who  displayed  these  looms,  had  a  concession  for  selling  the  pro- 
duct to  visitors. 

Speaking  of  concessions,  there  was  a  vast  product  from  the  hundreds 
of  machines  in  daily  operation  in  Machinery  Hall.  Quite  a  number 


MACHINERY  HALL.  235 

of  concessions  for  the  sale  of  the  more  unique  products  were  given. 
Those  firms  that  had  not  obtained  concessions  removed  their  products 
from  Machinery  Hall  at  the  close  of  each  day  during  the  Exposition. 

There  was  an  interesting  exhibit  of  sewing  machines  by  the  Singer 
Manufacturing  Company,  the  Standard,  American  and  other  works. 

The  Operator  on  Wheels. 

There  were  also  shown  some  special  machines  of  this  character,  such 
as  a  carpet-sewing  machine,  where  the  operator  rides  a  velocipede  for 
one  hundred  feet  and  guides  an  electric  motor,  which  sews  the  carpet 
together  as  he  moves  along.  There  were  also  machines  for  sewing  wood 
and  leather  with  wire  thread,  some  of  the  product  being  fine  enough  for 
a  kid  glove.  Devices  of  this  kind  were  shown  by  J.  H.  Sternberg  &  Co., 
of  Reading,  Pa.  Several  exhibitions  showed  the  latest  varieties  of 
knitting  machines  and  cloth-cutting  machines. 

In  the  northwest  corner  of  the  building  was  a  large  display  of  flouring 
machines  from  the  works  of  E.  P.  Allis  &  Co.,  Milwaukee  ;  Barnhart  & 
Leese,  Moline,  111.,  and  Nordyke  &  Marmon,  Indianapolis.  Flour  mill 
machinery  was  shown  in  full  operation.  The  display  of  wood-working 
machinery  included  exhibits  by  J.  A.  Fay  &  Co.,  Egan  &  Co.,  S.  A. 
Woods  Machine  Company,  Greenlee  Brothers  and  others,  and  were  the 
largest  display  of  turning  and  planing  machinery  ever  shown.  There 
were  carving  and  molding  machines.  One  machine  carved  out  from 
wood  intricate  designs  and  statuettes  in  groups.  In  ancient  times  this 
kind  of  work  was  laboriously  performed  by  hand,  and  months  were  spent 
on  a  single  group.  A  machine  exhibited  by  C.  L.  Goehring,  of  Alle- 
ghany  City,  would  turn  out  four  or  five  groups  of  wood  statuary  in  the 
space  of  a  few  minutes. 

There  was  a  great  variety  of  machines  for  geometrical  moldings 
which  are  now  adopted  in  the  manufacture  of  furniture  and  house 
decoration.  These  machines  have  only  been  on  the  market  for  two  or 
three  years  and  some  have  recently  been  sold  in  Europe  for  $25,000 
each.  Large  exhibits  of  machine  tools  were  made  by  the  Pond  Machine 
Tool  Works,  William  Sellers  &  Co.,  Niles  Tool  Works  and  many 
others. 

Measures  and  Weighs  Coffee. 

There  was  shown  a  machine  for  measuring  out  and  weighing  coffee. 
This  machine  takes  coffee  from  the  hopper  and  fills  one-pound  paper 
bags,  seals  them,  and  does  all  this  at  the  rate  of  several  tons  of  coffee  per 
day.  This  exhibit  was  from  Arbuckle,  of  New  York  city.  There  was 
another  machine  that  manufactured  tags  and  labels.  It  takes  the  paper 


236  MACHINERY  HALL. 

from  the  roll,  cuts  the  tags,  prints  the  labels,  punches  the  eyelets 
and  then  inserts  the  wire  for  fastening.  Another  machine  makes 
different  sizes  of  nails  from  wire.  In  1876  the  wire  nail  industry  had  not 
begun  in  this  country.  There  were  four  or  five  crude  machines  shown  at 
the  Centennial  by  French  exhibitors.  These  were  purchased  by  Ameri- 
cans, and  since  1876  the  manufacture  of  wire  nails  has  become  general 
•  all  over  the  United  States. 

Among  the  exhibits  were  machines  for  expanding  metal  for  use  in  rai' 
ings  and  galleries.  A  bar  of  steel  goes  in  at  one  end  and  comes  out  a  broad 
network  at  the  other.  This  material  often  takes  the  place  of  lath  in  the 
construction  of  modern  buildings.  There  were  machines  for  making 
hooks  and  eyes,  steel  fence  posts,  sections  of  telegraph  poles  and 
chains.  There  was  an  exhibit  of  machines  for  polishing  lenses,  so  that 
persons  who  wear  eye-glasses  may  have  lenses  polished  and  mounted 
while  they  wait.  The  C.  W.  B.  Sheridan  Company  made  a  fine  display 
of  wood-embossing  machines  that  produced  wooden  medals,  with 
impressions  of  World's  Fair  buildings  for  souvenir  purposes. 

Ornamental  Features. 

At  the  junction  of  the  main  hall  and  annex  was  a  tank  of  water  150  by 
50  feet.  Grouped  around  this  tank  was  the  pump  exhibit.  Scores  of 
modern  pumps  took  the  water  from  the  tank  and  threw  it  back  again. 
The  De  La  Vergne  Refrigerator  Company  built  an  ice  grotto  over  the 
tank  as  an  ornamental  feature,  this  being  one  of  the  most  spectacular 
features  of  the  whole  exhibit. 

Some  exhibitors  combined  to  make  a  collective  exhibit.  One  instance 
was  on  the  south  side  of  the  Annex,  where  a  large  paper  mill  was  in  full 
operation.  About  twenty  individual  exhibitors  were  included.  Wood 
pulp  was  put  through  all  the  processes  of  a  complete  paper  mill.  This 
exhibit  was  managed  by  the  Paper  Trade  Club,  of  Chicago,  under  the 
personal  direction  of  Chief  Robinson. 

Another  collective  exhibit  was  the  great  display  of  printing  presses  that 
turned  out  the  morning  and  evening  papers  for  sale  on  the  World's  Fair 
grounds.  Hoe,  Scott,  Potter,  Goss  and  all  the  other  great  press-makers 
were  represented.  There  was  also  a  large  exhibit  of  lithograph  printing 
machinery  and  job  printing  machinery,  bookbinding  machines  and 

linotypes. 

Stupendous  Mechanical  Energy. 

The  great  power  plant  in  the  South  Annex  was  a  stupendous  exhibition 
of  mechanical  energy.  There  were  about  forty-three  steam  engines,  with 
a  total  of  from  18,000  to  20,000  horse  power.  These  operated  one  hun- 


MACHINERY  HALL.  237 

dred  and  twenty-seven  dynamos,  which  in  turn  produced  electric  light 
and  power  for  all  the  other  World's  Fair  buildings.  For  the  power  in 
Machinery  Hall  alone  there  were  ten  or  twelve  engines,  representing  a 
total  of  about  3,000  horse  power.  One  engine  alone  in  this  gigantic 
power  plant  was  nearly  a  third  larger  than  the  famous  Corliss  engine  of 
1876.  The  largest  engine  in  the  World's  Fair  power  plant  was  built  by 
E.  P.  Allis  &  Co.,  of  Milwaukee,  and  was  of  2,000  horse  power,  as 
against  the  1,400  horsepower  of  the  Corliss.  The  Allis  quadruple  com- 
pound expansion  engine  has  never  had  a  parallel,  but  grouped  around  it 
were  seen  many  engines  nearly  as  big  as  the  old  Corliss.  One  thousand 
horse  power  engines  in  the  World's  Fair  plant  were  numerous,  one  being 
furnished  by  Fraser  &  Chalmers,  of  Chicago. 

The  dynamos  in  the  power  plant,  including  Edison  and  all  the  leading 
makers,  were  classed  in  the  electricity  exhibit.  The  boilers  were  a  part 
of  the  machinery  exhibit,  all  the  leading  American  makers  being  repre- 
sented. There  were  about  eighteen  or  twenty  feed  pumps  in  connection 
with  the  boilers,  and  these  with  the  large  circulating  pumps,  were  also 

classed  as  exhibits. 

Boiler  Plant  Interesting. 

The  boiler  plant  was  another  interesting  feature  of  the  Exposition. 
The  plant  contains  fifty  boilers,  all  of  large  size,  and  especially  constructed 
for  that  service.  They  are  arranged  in  a  long  tier  in  the  sheet-iron  annex 
adjoining  the  building  on  the  south,  and  it  is  the  aim  of  the  chief  of  that 
department  to  keep  the  boiler-room  so  clean  that  a  woman  may  go  in 
dressed  in  light  summer  fabric,  and  do  it  with  as  little  fear  of  soot  and 
smoke  as  she  would  have  in  her  boudoir.  Anthracite  coal  is  used  exclu- 
sively, and  the  Society  for  the  Prevention  of  Smoke  does  not  need  an 
inspector  about  the  premises.  The  floor  space  in  front  of  the  boilers  is 
bricked,  and  it  is  scrubbed  as  often  as  there  is  occasion  for  it.  Venti- 
lators have  been  put  in  to  keep  the  air  always  pure  and  cool,  and  the 
firemen  wear  a  distinctive  uniform,  which,  while  not  of  white  duck,  is 
neat  looking  and  always  clean. 

In  the  way  of  forgings  and  castings  the  exhibit  will  be  particularly 
complete.  Some  of  the  brass  valves  and  tubings  show  clever  workman- 
ship, and  are  polished  to  a  degree  that  they  resemble  mirrors.  One  firm, 
which  manufactures  safety  valves  for  engines,  has  included  in  its  display 
a  huge  valve  made  of  wood  and  tin  and  painted  to  resemble  iron,which  is 
titanic  in  size.  It  towers  above  other  exhibits  in  the  neighborhood  and 
looks  large  enough  to  provide  safety  for  every  boiler  on  the  grounds. 

Connecting  the  boilers  with  the  engines  and  other  machinery  in  the 
Main  Building  are  huge  steam  pipes,  asbestos-covered,  and  opened  and 


238  MACHINERY  HALL. 

closed  by  valves  which  are  reached  from  the  balcony  overlooking  the 
boiler  plant.  Power  is  furnished  exhibitors  gratuitously  up  to  a  certain 
amount,  after  which  a  moderate  charge  is  made.  Half  way  between 
each  aisle  shafting  is  run  at  an  elevation  of  fifteen  feet,  and  belts  from  these 
connect  with  the  machinery  of  the  exhibitors.  The  shafting  is  divided  into 
sections,  each  running  by  a  separate  engine,  so  that  in  the  event  of  any 
accident  to  the  machinery  it  will  necessitate  the  stopping  of  only  a  small 
portion  while  repairs  are  being  made.  The  system  is  so  arranged  also 
that  there  are  spare  engines  and  power  can  be  changed  from  one  to  the 
other. 

Machines  for  Very  Delicate  Work. 

The  delicate  machinery  which  turns  out  the  various  completed  por- 
tions of  a  watch,  machines  for  making  clocks,  watch  cases  and  jewelry, 
is  shown  along  with  the  pin  and  needle-making  machines,  which  are 
said  to  be  so  nearly  human  that  they  can  do  almost  everything  but 
think.  By  some  strange  fate  there  has  been  included  in  the  same  group 
with  these  delicate  machines  the  apparatus  used  in  steam  laundries,  and 
those  used  for  the  making  of  capsules  and  other  pharmaceutical  products, 
street  rollers,  sprinklers  and  sweepers,  steam  gauges,  machines  for  the 
testing  of  materials,  and  all  the  machines  used  in  the  various  manufac- 
turing industries  which  are  not  especially  mentioned.  Stone  sawing  and 
planing  machines,  sand  blasts,  glass-grinding  machines,  brick,  pottery  and 
artificial  stone  machines  go  in  the  same  class  with  rolling-mills  and 
forges,  roll  trains,  heating  apparatus,  and  machines  for  the  manufacture 
of  nails  and  horseshoes. 

The  last  group  in  the  list  is  that  of  mills  for  the  preparation  of  the 
various  cereals,  sugar-refining  and  confectioners'  machinery,  stills  and 
evaporating  machinery  for  condensing  milk. 


CHAPTER  XI. 
Electricity  Building. 

THE  Electrical  Building  cost  about  $60,000  and  covered  about  five 
acres.  The  architects  were  Van  Brunt  &  Howe,  of  Boston  and 
Kansas  City.  The  building  had  its  major  axis  running  north 
and  south.  The  south  front  was  on  the  great  quadrangle  or 
court ;  the  north  faced  the  lagoon.  The  general  scheme  of  the  plan  was 
based  on  a  longitudinal  nave,  115  feet  wide  and  114  feet  high,  crossed 
in  the  middle  by  a  transept  of  the  same  width  and  hight.  The  nave 
and  transept  had  a  pitched  roof,  with  a  range  of  skylights  at  the  bottom 
of  the  pitch  and  clear-story  windows.  The  rest  of  the  building  was 
covered  with  a  flat  roof  averaging  62  feet  in  height  and  provided  with 
skylights. 

The  second  story  was  composed  of  a  series  of  galleries  connected 
across  the  nave  by  two  bridges,  with  access  by  four  grand  staircases. 
There  were  subordinate  staircases  in  the  four  corners  of  the  building. 
The  area  of  the  galleries  in  the  second  story  was  118,543  feet,  or  2.7 
acres,  but  there  was  capacity  for  an  extension  of  this- area  if  necessary. 

The  exterior  walls  of  this  building  were  composed  of  a  continuous 
Corinthian  order  of  pilasters,  3  feet  6  inches  wide  and  42  feet  high,  sup- 
porting a  full  entablature  and  resting  upon  a  stylobate  8  feet  6  inches 
high.  Above  was  an  attic  story  8  feet  high,  the  total  height  of  the  walls 
from  the  grade  outside  being  68  feet  6  inches.  This  order  was  divided 
into  bays  23  feet  wide,  this  dimension  serving  as  the  measure  of  propor- 
tion for  the  plan  of  the  whole  building. 

In  the  center  of  each  of  the  four  sides  was  an  entrance  pavilion,  against 
which  the  higher  roof  of  the  nave  or  transept  abutted.  The  north  pavil- 
ion was  placed  between  the  two  great  apsidal  or  semi-circular  projections 
of  the  building."  It  was  flanked  by  two  towers  195  feet  high.  The  cen- 
tral feature  was  a  great  semi-circular  window,  above  which,  102  feet  from 
the  grade,  was  a  colonnade  forming  an  open  loggia  or  gallery,  command- 
ing a  view  over  the  lagoon  and  all  the  north  part  of  the  grounds.  Access 
to  the  loggia  was  obtained  by  elevators. 

At  each  of  the  four  corners  of  the  building  there  was  a  pavilion,  above 
which  rose  a  light,  open  spire  or  tower,  169  feet  high.  Intermediate 
between  these  corner  pavilions  and  the  central  pavilion  on  the  east  and 

west  sides,  there  was  a  subordinate  pavilion  bearing  a  low,  square  dome 

239 


240  ELECTRICITY  BUILDING. 

upon  an  open  lantern.  There  were  thus  ten  spires  and  four  domes,  which 
combined  to  give  to  the  otherwise  rigid  horizontal  lines  of  the  building 
an  effect  of  lightness  and  animation  in  accord  with  the  purposes  of  the 
building.  All  these  towers  were  composed  of  one  or  more  orders  of 
architecture,  with  open  arches,  interior  domes  and  balustrades.  The 
entablature  of  the  great  Corinthian  order  broke  around  each  of  the  pilas- 
ters of  the  four  fronts,  and  above  each  pilaster  in  the  Attic  order  was  a 
pedestal  bearing  a  lofty  mast  for  the  display  of  banners  by  day  and 
electric  lights  by  night.  Of  these  masts  there  were  in  all  fifty-four. 

Beautiful  and  Suggestive  Decorations. 

According  to  agreement  among  the  architects  of  the  buildings  around 
the  quadrangle,  the  Electricity  Building,  like  the  rest,  had  an  open  portico 
extending  along  the  whole  of  the  south  facade,  the  lower  or  Ionic  order 
forming  an  open  screen  in  front  of  it.  The  various  subordinate  pavilions 
were  treated  with  windows  and  balconies.  The  details  of  the  exterior 
orders  were  richly  decorated,  and  the  pediments,  friezes,  panels  and  span- 
drils  received  a  decoration  of  figures  in  relief,  with  architectural  motifs, 
the  general  tendency  of  which  was  to  illustrate  the  purposes  of  the 
building.  The  friezes  of  the  Ionic  order  bore  in  each  bay  the  name  of  a 
discoverer  or  inventor  associated  with  the  development  of  the  science  of 
electricity,  thus  setting  forth  a  biographical  history  of  the  science. 

The  color  of  the  exterior  was  marble,  but  the  walls  of  the  hemicycle 
and  of  the  various  porticoes  and  loggias  were  highly  enriched  with 
color,  the  pilasters  in  these  places  being  decorated  with  scagliola  and  the 
capitals  with  metallic  effects  in  bronze. 

Each  great  exposition  has  furnished  a  sort  of  milestone  to  mark  the 
progress  of  man  in  the  arts  and  sciences.  America  made  two  revelations 
to  the  world  at  Chicago  in  her  art  and  electrical  displays.  Out  of  the 
myriad  forms  of  beauty  will  come  no  new  school  of  art.  The  people 
of  the  Western  world  have  simply  proved  their  right  to  rank  with  the 
older  nations. 

It  was  the  fundamental  aim  of  Chief  Electrician  Barrett,  and  his  assist- 
ant, Dr.  Hornsby,  to  prove  that  electricity  is  not  a  "  mysterious  force  "— 
the  well-worn  excuse  for  ignorance — that  it  is  not  in  its  infancy,  and 
that  it  is  not  "  a  dangerous  thing  to  tamper  with."  They  strained  every 
point  to  prove  that  it  is  as  certain  a  quantity  as  steam,  quite  as  easily 
made  and  far  more  easily  controlled. 

'Twas  Franklin  first  who  caught  the  horse, 
He  was  harnessed  by  Professor  Morse. 


ELECTRICITY  BUILDING.  241 

• 

From  the  great  battery  of  boilers  in  Machinery  Hall  came  primarily 
the  force  that  the  dynamos  applied  to  the  operation  of  arc  and  incandes- 
cent lights,  power  motors  for  various  industrial  purposes,  the  charging 
of  storage  batteries  for  the  working  of  vehicles  on  land  and  water,  the 
supply  of  search  lights,  the  intermural  railway,  electric  fountains,  giant 
cranes,  and  for  almost  every  conceivable  purpose. 

All  Underground  Wires. 

Not  a  wire  was  allowed  above  the  ground,  the  circuits  being  all  estab- 
lished by  means  of  wooden  tunnels  laid  to  every  part  of  the  grounds  and 
buildings,  and  through  these  subways  the  wires  were  carried  on  insulators 
fastened  to  the  two  sides,  having  a  space  in  the  middle  large  enough  for 
attendants  to  pass.  This  whole  system  was  a  miniature  of  the  subway 
system  which  Professor  Barrett,  who  is  also  chief  electrician  of  Chicago, 
has  developed  for  the  city. 

There  were  seven  thousand  arc  lights  for  service,  twenty-five  hundred 
of  which  were  about  the  grounds  and  the  balance  inside  of  the  buildings. 
The  lamps  on  the  grounds  were  placed  upon  ornamental  iron  posts 
12  feet  high  at  intervals  of  about  50  feet.  They  were  located  with 
special  reference  to  the  landscape  arrangement  and  the  lines  of  the  build- 
ings. As  the  World's  Fair  was  a  small  city  within  itself,  a  fair  idea  was 
given  of  arc  light  service  for  municipal  lighting.  No  attempts  at  outside 
arc  decoration  were  made,  excepting  in  the  cases  of  a  few  of  the  State 
buildings,  where  they  lighted  up  the  statuary  for  night  views. 

Brilliant  Illuminations. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  the  interior  lighting  of  the  great 
buildings  was  far  more  brilliant  than  anything  of  the  kind  in  the  past,  the 
general  idea  being  to  have  a  2,ooo-candle  power  lamp  for  every  1,000 
square  feet  of  space.  In  the  great  Manufactures  Building  only  was  there 
an  attempt  at  artistic  decoration  in  arc  lighting. 

In  that  massive  building  there  were  five  big  chandeliers  of  arc  lights. 
Four  of  them  carried  sixty  lamps  each,  and  the  fifth  supported  seventy- 
five.  These  were  all  suspended  from  the  steel  arches.  Workmen 
reached  them  by  climbing  up  the  arch  to  a  ladder  against  the  rods  which 
supported  the  chandeliers,  descending  this  ladder  70  feet  to  the  chande- 
lier. They  were  then  140  feet  above  the  floor.  The  lamps  were  hung 
in  pairs  and  sustained  by  cords  which  passed  over  insulated  pulleys,  each 
lamp  balancing  the  weight  of  its  mate.  Between  them,  in  the  rim  of  the 
chandelier,  the  workmen  walked  securely  about  their  work,  or  crossed 
from  one  side  to  the  other  on  the  great  bridge. 
16 


242  ELECTRICITY  BUILDING. 

There  were  twelve  hundred  arc  lights  in  this  building.  There  were 
five  hundred  in  the  Agricultural,  three  hundred  and  fifty  in  the  Trans- 
portation, two  hundred  and  fifty  in  the  Horticultural,  two  hundred  in 
the  Mines,  fifty  in  the  Fisheries  and  seventy-seven  in  the  Illinois  State. 
This,  it  must  be  remembered,  was  aside  from  the  exterior  service — 
the  arc  lamps  that  lighted  the  grounds. 

Dreams  Surpassed. 

The  incandescent  lighting  was,  of  course,  the  great  feature  of  attraction 
in  lighting,  almost  all  the  decorative  lighting  being  of  that  style.  Visitors 
observed  one  fact  at  night  which,  perhaps,  not  one  in,  ten  thousand 
would  discover  by  day.  There  was  a  uniform  cornice  level  on  all  the 
buildings  60  feet  from  the  ground.  This  line  was  marked  at  night  by 
lines  of  incandescent  light.  The  little  bulbs  were  placed  at  narrow  inter- 
vals, seemingly  only  a  few  inches  when  viewed  from  the  ground.  The 
Administration  Building  in  particular  was  studded  with  lamps  from 
foundation  to  dome.  All  about  the  grand  canal  and  in  the  basin  a  row 
of  lamps  like  a  living  line  of  light,  set  just  above  the  water  service,  lent  a 
splendor  that  no  dream  could  excel.  Each  light  was  repeated  in  the 
water  by  a  dancing  counterpart,  and  both  lent  a  charm  to  handsome 
gondolas  and  water  craft  of  every  form. 

About  the  Wooded  Island  and  on  the  borders  of  flower  beds  every- 
where incandescent  lights  brought  out  the  beauties  of  flower  and  foliage 
as  in  the  radiance  of  the  sun.  Every  point  of  importance  was  so 
clustered  about  with  light  as  to  command  attention  and  win  admiration. 
On  the  dome  of  the  Agricultural  Building  the  great  golden  figure  of 
"Diana"  stood,  poised  and  free  of  movement  to  every  point  of  the  compass. 
Below  her  was  a  sunken  space — the  corona  of  the  dome — and  in  this 
circle,  hidden  from  view,  was  arranged  a  multitude  of  lights  which 
revealed  her  splendid  figure  as  in  the  very  eye  of  a  calcium  reflector. 
The  absence  of  other  lights  near,  together  with  her  height,  produced  the 
effect  of  a  gold  goddess  swinging  in  midair,  but  inside  the  buildings  the 
work  was  even  more  elaborate.  One  of  the  most  striking  features  of  the 
Fair  was  the  sixteen  thousand  incandescent  lights  in  the  Fine  Arts 
Building,  where  there  were  two  miles  of  reflecting  screens.  There  were 
no  arc  lamps  in  this  building,  but  the  flood  of  incandescent  light 
searched  out  every  beauty  in  the  pictures. 

Like  a  Fairy  Realm. 

One  of  the  daintiest  bits  of  lighting  in  all  the  Fair  was  the  Wooded 
Island,  where  the  Japanese  had  their  pavilion.  The  Frenchmen  of  the 
Orient  themselves  contributed  to  the  happiness  of  the  inspiration  by 


ELECTRICITY  BUILDING.  243 

bringing  with  them  shades  and  reflectors  for  use  in  preparing  the  various 
effects,  and  the  result  was  extremely  beautiful.  Quaint  gables  of  the 
Hooden  or  Phoenix  Palace  were  studded  with  prettily  shaded  colored 
lights,  the  graceful  curves  that  accentuate  the  Japanese  architecture  were 
brought  into  relief  by  clusters  here  and  there,  and  the  gorgeous  colors 
of  the  building  were  emphasized  in  the  same  way. 

Exhibitors  in  all  the  departments  exhausted  their  resources  in  the 
preparation  of  their  booths  and  pavilions,  fantastic  lighting  being  no 
small  factor  in  their  success.  Some  of  the  most  beautiful  lighting  in  the 
Exposition  was  done  in  the  various  State  and  foreign  buildings,  the 
1,760  lights  in  the  New  York  building  being  arranged  to  make  the  effect 
worthy  of  special  distinction. 

Interesting  Demonstrations. 

Within  the  Electrical  Building  was  the  exhibit  proper  of  the  new 
things  in  electricity.  Here  was  followed  out  the  plan  laid  down  for  the 
balance  of  the  Exposition,  to  demonstrate  in  a  practical  way  the  every- 
day uses  of  electricity.  The  visitor  was  able  to  see  not  only  that  elec- 
tricity can  be  useful  to  him  in  almost  all  phases  of  life,  whether  social 
or  commercial, but  he  was  brought  so  closely  in  contact  with  the  "deadly 
fluid  "  and  saw  so  plainly  all  its  workings  that  he  was  able  to  judge  for 
himself  whether  it  is  to  be  still  called  "  deadly  "  and  "  dangerous,"  or 
whether  it  is  only  one  of  the  giant  forces  of  the  universe,  brought  to  its 
knees  before  the  great  intellect  of  man  and  made  to  do  his  bidding 
The  visitor  was  allowed  to  lay  his  hands  on  the  "  deadly  trolley " 
without  ill  effects.  He  saw  one  hundred  thousand  volts  of  current,  more 
than  thirty  thousand  times  as  much  as  New  York  uses  to  electrocute 
criminals,  completely  under  the  control  of  the  operator  and  handled  by 
him  so  carefully  and  expeditiously  as  to  suggest  no  danger  whatever  to 
human  life.  He  was  on  the  best  of  terms  with  the  electric  current,  and 
the  lesson  taught  was  that  this  deadly  agent  was  perfectly  harmless  when 
confined  to  its  appropriate  mechanism,  and  that  there  is  no  need  of  its 
getting  the  upper  hand.  So  visitors  were  given  a  knowledge  of  the 
p:inciples  of  electricity  much  as  Hermann  acquaints  his  audiences  with 
legerdemain,  but  in  this  case  the  trick  was  followed  by  the  rational 
explanation. 

As  the  great  machines  whirred  and  spit  and  sparkled  in  the  brilliantly 
lighted  hall  it  was  interesting  to  make  a  tour  with  an  official  of  the 
department  and  have  explanations  of  the  things  to  be  seen. 

The  key  to  the  exhibit  was  found  in  the  inscription  in  great  gilt  letters 
written  over  the  statue  of  Franklin,  around  the  hemicycle  that  formed 


ELECTRICITY  BUILDING.  245 

the  main  entrance,  eripuit  ccelo  fulmen  sceptrumque  tyrannis,  which,  being 
liberally  interpreted,  means  that  the  wild  lightnings  have  been  caught 

and  tamed. 

Telephone  Marvels. 

Entering  the  building,  whose  interior  was  of  a  light  blue  color,  to 
admit  of  both  day  and  night  lighting,  the  visitor  saw  a  pure  white  Greek 
pavilion,  made  to  contain  the  exhibit  of  the  American  Bell  Telephone 
Company,  an  exhibit  most  interesting  in  view  of  the  expiration  of  the 
primary  patents  on  the  telephone.  Although  it  was  the  strongest 
monopoly  in  the  world,  to-day  the  Bell  Company  has  deemed  it  necessary 
to  show  the  world  that  notwithstanding  the  expiration  of  its  funda- 
mental patents  it  has  auxiliary  patents  that  will  enable  it  to  give  a 
service  that  cannot  be  met  by  outsiders.  Models  of  more  than  five 
hundred  patents  were  in  the  pavilion.  These  patents  embraced  the 
Edison  transmitter,  the  Blake  receiver,  the  Berliner  patents  on  transmis- 
sion, insulating  apparatus,  the  new  switchboard  mechanism,  long 
distance  attachments  and  many  other  familiar  things. 

Booths  for  actual  telephone  service  in  experiments  were  a  part  of  the 
pavilion.  These  included  a  long  distance  line  direct  to  New  York, 
Boston  and  outlying  territory,  with  microphone  attachments  for  hearing 
the  most  delicate  sound,  such  as  the  walking  of  a  fly.  Other  telephones 
in  these  booths  connected  with  concert  and  opera  houses  in  the  East, 
and  still  others  were  used  in  connection  with  the  phonograph,  by  which 
the  user  could  hear  phonograph  music  or  songs,  or  by  which  a  letter 
could  be  dictated  to  the  phonograph  over  long  distances. 

Beauties  of  the  Incandescent  Lighting. 

Next  to  the  telephone,  the  incandescent  lamp  is  the  most  interest- 
ing thing  electrically  just  now,  mainly  because  of  the  declaration  by  the 
Courts  upholding  the  Edison  patents.  The  incandescent  lamp  is  con- 
trolled by  the  General  Electric  Company,  the  result  of  the  consolidation 
of  the  Edison  and  Thomson-Houston  companies.  The  crowning  feature 
of  the  General  Electric  Company's  exhibit  was  the  "  glorification  of  the 
Edison  lamp,"  a  shaft  of  staff  work  85  feet  in  height,  in  white  and  gold, 
on  which  were  3,500  incandescent  lamps,  arranged  in  spirals,  the  colors 
being  separated,  so  that  one  switch  turned  on  a  spiral  of  red  lights 
around  the  shaft,  from  bottom  to  top,  white,  yellow,  blue  and  other 
colored  lights  being  used  in  the  same  way.  On  the  top  of  the  shaft  was 
an  incandescent  lamp  six  feet  high,  made  up  of  30,000  pieces  of  crystal, 
each  piece  a  small  prism. 

Below,    in  a  sort    of    pagoda,  was  the  exhibit  of  the  Phoenix  Glass 


246  ELECTRICITY  BUILDING. 

Company,  a  collection  of  cut  crystal  for  all  purposes,  candelabra,  electro- 
liers and  fancy  globes  for  arc  and  incandescent  lamp  service. 

This  was  a  fine  central  figure  for  the  building,  but  did  not  form  a 
part  of  the  magnificent  commercial  exhibit.  A  great  i,5oo-horse  power 
generator  was  one  of  the  finest  features  of  the  exhibit.  Heavy  mining 
machinery,  drills,  hoists,  pumps,  crushers,  separators,  tramways  and  so 
on,  took  a  large  part  of  the  space. 

"The  Deadly  Trolley  Wire." 

In  the  railway  department  of  the  company  there  was  a  revelation. 
Here  people  were  asked  to  put  out  their  hands  and  grasp  the  "  deadly 
trolley"  wire,  while  it  was  charged  to  operate  a  full  load.  The  new  gear- 
ess  motor  for  railway  service,  in  which  the  motor  turns  the  axle  directly 
without  recourse  to  cogs,  chains  or  other  intermediaries,  was  given 
special  prominence. 

One  of  the  greatest  steps  made  in  the  development  of  the  electrical 
science  in  recent  years  is  in  the  handling  and  transmission  of  currents 
for  power  over  longer  distances.  At  the  Frankfort  Exposition  of  1891, 
the  Germans  transmitted  3OO-horse  power  over  a  distance  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  miles,  and  claimed  an  efficiency  of  sixty  per  cent.  The 
trials  were  not  satisfactory,  and  little  else  than  enthusiasm  grew  out  of 
them. 

Professor  Thomson  showed  what  he  has  done  since  then.  He 
made  some  high  potential  demonstrations  which  showed  wonderful 
progress  in  operating  machinery  electrically  over  long  distances.  For 
his  purposes  he  used  a  current  of  one  hundred  thousand  volts,  trans- 
formed down  to  a  point  where  it  can  be  made  available — say  one  hun- 
dred and  ten  volts. 

The  next  exhibitor  to  be  met  in  the  Electricity  Building  was  the 
Westinghouse  Electric  and  Manufacturing  Company.  This  company 
was  most  prominent  of  all  in  connection  with  the  Exposition  as  a  whole, 
having  a  contract  to  furnish  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  incan- 
descent lamps  in  the  buildings  and  about  the  grounds.  In  the  Electricity 
Building  its  prominence  was  due  to  the  exhibition  of  the  new  Westing- 
house  incandescent  lamp  and  the  efficiency  tests  relating  to  it,  and  to  the 
demonstrations  of  Professor  Nikola  Tesla,  whose  patents  on  the  regula- 
tion and  transmission  of  the  electrical  current  are  owned  by  the  West- 
inghouse Company.  In  the  lamp  the  company  offers  what  it  holds  to  be 
free  from  the  claims  made  in  the  patents  of  the  Edison  lamp — a  one-piece 
carbon  filament  lamp  burning  in  an  atmosphere  of  nitrogen  gas,  instead 
of  a  two-piece  carbon  filament  lamp  burning  in  a  vacuum. 


ELECTRICITY  BUILDING. 


247 


The  sixteen  thousand  light  machines  installed  in  Machinery  Hall  were, 
of  course,  the  largest  ever  made,  and  the  electrical  world  is  eagerly 
watching  to  see  if  large  units  are  wise  for  building  large  plants.  There 
has  been  much  dispute  on  this 
point  in  the  past. 

The  Western  Electric  Com- 
pany's exhibit  showed  quality 
rather  than  quantity.  They 
did  not  display  big  machinery 
nor  try  experiments.  Their 
model  theatre  was  their  most  in- 
teresting thing  from  the  stand- 
point of  the  public. 

All  the  scenery  of  this  little 
theatre  was  simple.  One  picture 
was  a  mountain  scene,  another 
a  country  scene,  and  a  third  a 
water  scene.  In  each  view, 
which  was  shown  every  hour, 
there  was  a  representation  of 
the  twenty-four  hours  of  the  day, 
beginning  with  the  dawn — the 
glow  in  the  eastern  sky — the 
scene  gradually  growing  brigh- 
ter, the  sky  redder,as  the  sun 
approaches  the  horizon — sunrise 
and  the  ushering  in  of  the  day — 
the  enlivened  scene — midday, 
with  the  glow  and  glare  of  the 
sun,  the  haziness  of  a  hot  sum- 
mer noon — then  the  evening, 
with  the  long  shadows,  the  re- 
flected light  against  the  hillside, 
the  subdued  glow  of  the  decli- 
ning sun — the  sunset  and  the 
fall  of  night — the  rise  of  the  moon 
— faint  light  in  the  east,  but 
growing  lighter — the  moon  rising  out  of  the  water  or  over  the  hillside — 
and  one  begins  to  dream  of  such  a  night  and  bring  back  some 
happy  event — and  presently  the  scene  is  gone  and  you  are  once 
more  out  in  a  glaring  aisle,  listening  to  the  monotonous  roar 


STATUE    OF    THE    REPUBLIC 


248  ELECTRICITY  BUILDING. 

of  the  heavy  machines.     It  was  worth  a   long  trip  to   see  the  model 
theatre. 

Taking  a  careful  look,  we  notice  that  this  company  has  also  some 
exceedingly  interesting  things  in  time  signals,  fire  alarm  apparatus,  artis- 
tic lighting  for  the  home  and  house  equipment  for  all  purposes. 

Lightning  Outdone. 

One  of  the  best  spectacular  pieces  in  the  building  is  the  column  of 
light  in  the  space  of  the  Western  Electric  Company.  A  post  in  the 
centre  of  the  space  seemed  unattractive  to  the  electricians  who  had  charge 
of  the  preparations,  and  to  get  rid  of  it  a  round  plaster  column  was  built 
in  white  and  gold,  covered  or  nearly  so  with  small  colored  lamps,  run  in 
spirals  from  bottom  to  top. 

At  the  top  of  the  pillar,  which  serves  to  hold  up  the  gallery,  are  four 
shoulders  branching  out  from  a  point  six  feet  below  the  gallery  floor  and 
extending  to  the  gallery.  These  in  the  rough  were  very  unsightly.  They 
serve  a  pretty  purpose,  however.  The  lights  running  up  the  post  are 
made  to  reach  the  top  of  these  shoulders  as  well,  one  series  for  each 
shoulder!  At  the  top  of  the  shoulders  are  fireballs  which,  when  the 
lights  flash  up  to  them  along  the  posts,  apparently  burst  with  a  great 
noise.  The  whole  spectacle  is  a  very  pretty  representation  of  lightning. 

Two  great  forging  and  welding  companies  from  Boston — the  Thom- 
son Welding  Company  and  the  Electrical  Forging  Company — have  very 
attractive  exhibits.  The  forging  display  is  more  popular,  because  it  is  a 
live  exhibit  operating  under  250  horse-power  of  electric  current.  This 
machinery  is  capable  of  welding  bar  iron  or  steel  of  a  thickness  of  six 
inches. 

Professor  Elisha  Gray's  tetantograph  is  also  on  view,  and  the  experi- 
ments are  very  exhaustive,  although  the  wire  coils,  representing  miles  of 
distance,  are  merely  theoretical  devices,  and  it  is  pretty  certain  that  the 
inventor  will  not  dare  to  attempt  to  send  a  drawing  by  telegraph  from 
Chicago  to  New  York.  But  in  the  Electrical  Building  handwriting  and 
simple  pictures  are  transmitted  by  wire  constantly.  In  sending  a  mes- 
sage an  ordinary  lead  pencil  is  used,  near  the  point  of  which  two  silk 
cords  are  fastened  at  right  angles  to  each  other.  These  cords  connect 
with  the  instrument,  and  following  the  motion  of  the  pencil  regulate  the 
current  impulses  which  control  the  receiving  pen  at  a  distant  station 
This  writing  is  done  on  ordinary  paper,  five  inches  wide,  conveniently 
arranged  on  a  roll  attached  to  the  machine.  A  lever  at  the  left  is  moved 
by  hand,  shifting  the  paper  forward  mechanically  at  the  transmitter  and 
electrically  at  the  receiver. 


ELECTRICITY  BUILDING.  249 

Magnificent  Illuminations. 

Let  us  now  step  out  into  the  Park.  The  electric  illumination  within 
the  World's  Fair  grounds  at  night  is  something  far  more  comprehensive 
than  has  ever  before  been  attempted.  Thousands  of  dollars  were  expended 
in  preparing  for  night  displays  that  far  eclipse  anything  the  world  has 
ever  seen.  With  all  the  great  buildings  ablaze,  the  water  in  the  lagoon 
a  sea  of  light,  and  the  magnificent  MacMonnies  fountain  in  front  of  the 
Administration  Building  throwing  out  in  watery  jets  all  the  colors  of  the 
rainbow,  a  grand  spectacle  is  presented. 

Endless  rows  of  incandescent  bulbs  are  arranged  along  the  shores 
of  the  lagoon,  canals  and  inlets;  all  the  buildings  surrounding  the  Grand 
Court,  as  it  is  called,  including  the  peristyle,  casino  and  music  hall,  blaze 
with  the  glare  of  arc  and  incandescent  lamps,  arranged  in  effective  and 
tasteful  designs,  while  powerful  search-lights  on  the  towers  of  the  larger 
structures  more  than  turn  night  into  day  on  the  grounds.  Projected 
upon  a  scale  of  unparalleled  splendor,  the  illumination  of  the  Exposition 
palaces  and  grounds  easily  promises  to  surpass  all  other  sights  at  Jackson 
Park. 

A  Fountain  of  Fire. 

The  main  feature  of  the  illumination,  the  central  factor  of  it  all,  is  the 
MacMonnies  fountain.  It  is  the  most  striking  piece  of  ornamentation  on 
the  grounds.  By  day  and  night  it  is  the  great  attraction  for  visitors,  and 
its  beauty  and  attractiveness  are  augmented  by  two  electric  fountains  of 
mammoth  size,  the  largest  ever  constructed.  These  are  located  on  either 
side  of  the  MacMonnies  group,  and  consist  of  two  circular  basins,  each 
sixty  feet  in  diameter,  the  bottoms  of  which  are  four  feet  below  the  level 
of  the  water  in  the  grand  canal  or  basin. 

Water  for  the  jets  is  furnished  through  twenty  four-inch  mains 
branching  from  a  thirty-six-inch  pipe  connected  with  the  gigantic  pumps 
in  Machinery  Hall,  just  across  the  way.  Eighteen  water  jets  are  grouped 
in  a  circle  on  the  outer  edge  of  each  basin  about  the  main  central  orifice, 
by  which  it  throws  a  two-inch  stream  to  the  height  of  150  feet.  Imme- 
diately about  this  are  seven  jets  of  less  than  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  fur- 
ther to  the  outside,  describing  a  larger  circle,  is  a  row  of  six  i^-inch  jets 
intermingled  with  still  another  of  ^-inch  pipes.  Individual  jets,  so 
arranged  as  to  get  the  best  artistic  effect,  make  a  total  of  152  streams  in 
each  fountain,  every  one  of  which  can  be  thrown  into  action  at  the  same 
time. 

These  fountains  are  illuminated  by  thirty-eight  arc  lamps,  each  using 
one  hundred  amperes,  and  their  rays,  of  varying  colors,  are  deflected  by 


250  ELECTRICITY  BUILDING. 

parabolic  reflectors.  The  mechanism  used  to  change  the  combinations 
of  water,  light  and  coldr  is  located  in  the  basin,  and  the  operators  in 
charge  are  directed  by  electric  signals  from  one  of  the  high  towers  on 
Machinery  Hall. 

The  Fountain  Looks  Like  an  Immense  Bouquet. 

When  these  fountains  are  playing  the  effects  produced  are  startling. 
The  combinations  possible,  because  of  the  large  number  of  jets  and 
lights  provided,  are  practically  innumerable.  What  interests  the  spec- 
tators more  than  anything  else  is  the  "  set  pieces,"  as  they  are  known. 
These  are  on  the  same  style  as  set  pieces  in  a  fireworks  display. 

These  set  pieces  are  sometimes  huge  flowers,  lilies  outlined  in  clear 
white  water,  with  the  slender  stamen  indicated  by  the  central  jet,  sheaves 
of  wheat,  criss-cross  fences  of  gold,  showers  of  rubies  and  other  precious 
stones ;  and  other  similar  effects  can  be  produced  by  an  ingenious  com- 
bination of  colored  light  Jthrown  upon  the  risnig  and  falling  streams  of 
water.  It  cost  at  least  $100,000  to  erect  these  fountains  and  get  them 
ready  for  work  and  from  $500  to  $1,000  per  night  to  operate  them. 

Statue  of  Ben  Franklin. 

At  the  southern  entrance  to  the  World's  Fair  Electricity  Building 
stands  a  statue  of  Benjamin  Franklin.  Above  and  around  the  entrance 
is  this  inscription  :  Eripuit  caelofulmen  sceptrumque  tyrannis,  which  is 
nothing  more  than  ancient  Caesar's  way  of  saying  that  Mr.  Franklin  sent 
up  a  kite  and  brought  down  from  heaven  a  thing  that  tyrants  even  of 
Nero's  stripe  dare  not  fool  with.  And  yet  good  old  "  Uncle  Ben  "  never 
dreamed  of  the  uses  to  which  his  discovery  would  be  put. 

The  pose  selected  by  the  sculptor  for  the  figure  of  Franklin  is  admir- 
able. Franklin  stands  firmly  planted  upon  his  feet,  his  coat  with  full 
skirts  blown  back  by  the  wind  in  which  he  is  flying  the  historic  kite. 
His  head  in  an  attitude  of  expectancy,  is  inclined  backward,  while  his 
face  absorbed  in  thought  is  watching  the  experimental  flight.  One 
hand  holds  the  key,  the  other  the  silken  string  of  the  kite.  Across  the 
great  space  in  front  of  the  Administration  Building  the  effect  is  admir- 
able, particularly  in  its  proportion  with  the  magnificent  buildings  and 
columns. 

The  scientists  says  that  electricity  is  life.  Then  Jackson  Park  is  of  a 
truth  a  living  thing.  The  darkness  and  gloom  of  its  forests  are  pene- 
trated and  dispelled  by  the  electric  light,  and  their  stillness  is  broken  by 
the  noise  of  the  electric  railway.  Its  mammoth  white  buildings  gleam  and 
glisten  with  electric  lights,  while  upon  the  placid  bosom  of  its  waters 


ELECTRICITY  BUILDING. 


251 


glide  electric  launches.  Everywhere  is  the  presence  of  the  great  dis- 
covery felt.  The  electrical  exhibit  is  infinitely  larger  and  greater 
than  anything  of  the  kind  ever  before  attempted.  It  would  awe  Frank- 
lin, Ohm,  Morse  and  all  the  rest  of  the  great  discoverers  who  imagined 
they  knew  a  deal  about  electricity. 

Electricity  Building  is  full  of  electrical  apparatus  of  every  known  des- 
cription. Machinery  Hall  has  a  goodly  share,  and  so  have  some  of  the 
other  buildings.  The 
vesselson  Lake  Michi- 
gan that  form  a  part 
of  the  Exposition  are 
also  supplied.  Every- 
thing from  a  miniature 
incandescent  light  to 
a  complete  railway 
train  is  seen  in  this 
exhibit.  There  are 
meters,  motors,  gene- 
rators, trucks,  and 
brakes  for  railways 
in  one  portion  of 
the  building  ;  mining 
pumps,  hoists,  pres- 
sure blowers,  air  com- 
pressors, centrifugal 
fans,  and  mining  loco- 
motives in  another, 
and  engines,  dynamos 
and  complete  lighting 
systems  elsewhere. 
Then  there  are  com- 
plete battleship  equip- 
ments, electric  foun- 
tains and  columns, 
and  lastly  an  intramural  road  run  with  power  furnished  by  electricity. 

Then  there  is  a  railway  and  motor  exhibit  that  attracts  attention.  It 
contains  all  the  modern  railway  work  for  street  car  and  street  railroad 
practice.  There  is  one  elevated  railway  locomotive  that  is  built  for  high 
speed  railway  work.  It  has  the  latest  form  of  electric  controllers,  air- 
brakes, whistle,  and  automatic  safety  devices.  Its  gross  weight  is  thirty 
tons,  and  it  is  designed  for  a  maximum  speed  of  fifty  miles  per  hour. 


THE    ROLLING    CHAIR. 


252  ELECTRICITY  BUILDING. 

The  engine  was  used  on  the  Boston  and  Maine  Railroad,  hauling  trains 
from  Lynn  to  seaside  resorts — a  distance  of  four  miles. 

From  the  Wizard's  Workshop. 

Inventor  Edison  has  his  goods  well  represented.  There  is  a  display  of 
no  mean  proportions  of  the  Edison  low  potential  three-wire  system, 
including  Edison  tubing,  Edison  machines,  and  the  Edison  lamp.  As  a 
center-piece  to  his  exhibit  there  is  an  Edison  Jumbo  machine.  At  the 
time  of  its  construction  this  concern  was  the  marvel  of  the  age.  It 
was  the  first  machine  to  be  constructed  on  the  modern  principle  of  engine 
and  dynamos  being  directly  connected  on  the  same  shaft,  and  for  eleven 
years  it  ran  continuously  in  the  Pearl  Street  station  of  the  New  York 
Illuminating  Company.  The  three -wire  system  might  with  propriety  be 
placed  in  the  collection  of  curiosities,  as  it  is  one  of  the  very  few  of 
Edison's  inventions  upon  which  there  has  been  no  infringement  of  patent. 
It  is  regarded  as  one  of  his  great  inventions,  second,  in  fact,  only  to  the 
lamp. 

The  machinery  that  supplies  arc  light  to  the  Electricity  Building  is 
situated  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  main  floor.  There  are  two  hundred 
and  seventy-five  such  lights,  and  when  they  are  all  turned  on  night  is 
turned  into  day.  Right  in  the  centre  of  the  general  electric  exhibit  is  an 
exhibit  unique  and  beautiful.  It  is  called  the  Edison  tower  of  light.  It 
is  an  exact  reproduction  of  the  German  Tower  of  Victory,  and  the 
designs  received  the  approval  of  Mr.  Atwood,  the  architect  of  the  gallery 
of  fine  arts.  The  lower  portion  of  the  structure  is  a  colonnade  30  feet 
in  diameter,  occupied  with  a  display  of  crystal  for  electrical  uses.  The 
shaft  for  the  colonnade,  to  a  total  height  of  78  feet,  is  studded  with 
myriads  of  miniature  incandescent  lights,  so  arranged  as  to  flash  in  various 
figures  and  colors.  These  little  lights  are  each  only  an  inch  and  a  half 
long.  The  whole  structure  is  surmounted  with  a  mammoth  incan- 
descent lamp,  composed  of  almost  innumerable  pieces  of  crystal.  The 
lamp  is  eight  feet  in  length  and  contains  no  less  than  3,000  pieces  of 

crystal. 

Marvellous  Ocean  Cable. 

W.  R.  Brixey,  whose  Insulated  Cable  factory  is  at  Seymour,  Conn., 
exhibits  the  famous  "  Kerite  "  cables.  His  space  was  finely  located  at 
the  head  of  the  main  stairway  in  the  Electrical  Building,  and  it  was  28  by 
40  in  size.  It  is  enclosed  with  heavy  brass  railing  in  the  form  of  a  cable, 
and  just  inside  the  railing  stand  handsome  cabinet  showcases  with  plate- 
glass  windows,  in  which  are  placed  various  parts  of  the  output  of  the 
factory.  About  the  enclosure  are  fifty  large  spools  made  of  white  ash 


ELECTRICITY  BUILDING.  253 

finished  in  its  natural  state,  and  wound  with  all  sizes  and  kinds  of  sub- 
marine, underground  and  aerial  cables,  which  form  the  greater  part  of 
the  work  turned  out. 

An  attractive  and  excellent  feature  of  the  exhibit  is  a  cosy  parlor  in  the 
centre  of  the  space.  Just  in  the  centre  is  a  post,  and  around  this  is  built 
a  room  10  by  12  feet.  The  interior  is  of  beautifully-grained  sycamore  in 
its  natural  state,  and  handsomely  carved.  Running  from  the  post  to 
each  corner  are  arches  of  the  same  wood,  and  filled  with  spindle  work. 
The  post  itself  is  enclosed  in  sycamore  boxing  and  from  the  arches  are 
suspended  incandescent  lights,  while  about  the  space  on  the  outside  are 
several  arc  lights. 

A  Great  Telegraph  Company. 

The  Western  Union  has  its  pavilion  in  the  east  gallery,  and  displays 
the  instruments  used  in  its  first  revolutionizing  application  of  electricity — 
the  telegraphic  tools  that  Prof.  Morse  used  when  the  message,  "  What 
God  hath  wrought,"  was  flashed  to  the  world,  announcing  the  success  of 
telegraphic  communication.  All  the  improvements  are  shown  down  to 
the  perfected  appliances  used  in  modern  telegraphic  services.  A  model  of 
the  "  Great  Eastern  "  and  other  vessels  used  in  connecting  the  continents 
by  cable,  with  many  relics  and  mementos  of  that  grand  enterprise,  are 
near  by.  The  Postal  Company  makes  a  grand  exhibition  of  modern 
appiiances,  while  the  Bennett-Mackey  Company  shows  everything  that  is 
new  and  valuable  in  the  operation  of  sub-marine  telegraphic  communi- 
cation. 

Cyrus  W.  Field,  whose  determination  made  the  dream  of  interconti- 
nental telegraphic  communication  a  reality,  is  remembered.  All  the 
decorations  and  other  tokens  that  grateful  and  admiring  nations  show- 
ered on  him  form  an  interesting  display. 

The  possibilities  of  electricity  as  a  domestic  force  are  given  ample 
illustration  by  thermo-electric  appliances.  In  the  cafe  of  the  Electric 
Building  the  cooking  is  done  by  electricity.  It  bastes  its  meat,  and  is 
altogether  an  accommodating  sort  of  fuel.  With  an  electric  plant  in  a 
kitchen  one  can  rig  it  out  so  that  it  will  broil  a  beefsteak  and  turn  an  ice- 
cream freezer,  pare  potatoes,  scrub,  sweep,  and  wash  clothes.  It  would 
not  be  a  much  greater  expense  to  make  a  connection  with  the  nursery 
and  keep  the  baby  sufficiently  rocked  with  the  same  machine.  One 
drawback  to  the  use  of  electricity  for  such  purposes  is  that  it  is  an  expen- 
sive fuel,  but  it  is  among  the  expectations  that  Edison  has  supplied 
means  that  will  revolutionize  the  commercial  use  of  electric  and  mag- 
netic power.  And  expense  would  figure  in  the  revolution. 


254  ELECTRICITY  BUILDING. 

The  field  of  the  electrical  department  does  not  end  with  the  walls  of 
the  beautiful  building  which  is  its  home.  The  great  switchboard  for  the 
park  lighting  system  is  on  another  part  of  the  grounds.  The  application 
of  the  power  is  displayed  on  the  lagoons,  in  the  launches  that  ply  on 
their  waters  to  eclipse  in  speed,  if  not  romance,  the  gondoliers  who  pad- 
dle about  on  the  shaded  canals.  It  is  seen  on  the  intramural  railways 
and  in  the  production  of  power  for  many  purposes  in  different  buildings. 
The  department  is  also  in  charge  of  the  illumination  of  the  buildings — as 
to  the  spectacular  efforts  in  that  direction  at  least. 

In  discussing  the  lessons  taught  by  the  exhibition  in  his  department 
Chief  Barrett  said  :  "  It  will  show  that  America,  which  naturally  has  the 
largest  exhibit,  leads  in  the  general  application  of  electricity ;  that  the 
foreign  countries  excel  in  workmanship.  The  artists  from  Germany  and 
France  show  exquisite  workmanship.  What  they  do  by  hand  we  do  by 
machinery,  and,  of  course,  the  work  is  inferior.  America  leads  in  the 
extent  of  its  exhibit,  Germany  comes  second,  with  France  third,  and 
England  last  of  the  countries  that  are  making  large  exhibits." 


CHAPTER  XII. 
Agricultural  Building. 

TO  the  average  mind  an  agricultural  display  suggests  bushels  of 
corn,  stacks  of  oats,  sheaves  of  wheat  and  the  other  naked  pro- 
ducts of  the  field.  Primarily  this  idea  is  correct,  but  the  world 
is  far  advanced  beyond  the  primary  stage.  Every  combination 
into  which  the  food  products  enter  or  of  which  they  can  by  any  possi- 
bility form  a  part ;  every  invention  which  tends  to  make  the  work  of  man 
easier  in  inducing  the  soil  to  yield  up  its  favors  ;  the  liquids  as  well 
as  the  solids,  which  are  the  result  of  man's  ingenuity  in  compounding 
and  mixing  were  shown  in  the  Agricultural  Building,  with  the  result 
that  effects  were  produced  ami  combinations  made  that  were  bewilder- 
ing. 

Taste  and  artistic  sense  were  shown  in  the  general  arrangement  of  the 
displays  in  this  structure,  which  was  in  itself  a  beautiful  object  and 
worthy  of  close  and  critical  study.  Its  interior  was  marred  in  a  measure 
in  consequence  of  the  demands  made  upon  it  for  space  in  which  to 
arrange  exhibits,  galleries  having  been  thrown  across  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  displays  for  which  there  was  no  room  on  the  main  floor. 

The  structure  was  the  work  of  McKim,  Meade  &  White,  and  was  in 
the  style  of  the  classic  renaissance.  It  was  almost  surrounded  by  the 
lagoons  that  lead  into  Jackson  Park  from  the  'lake,  and  was  admirably 
situated,  standing  directly  to  the  south  and  across  the  great  basin  from 
the  Manufactures  Building. 

Its  general  design  was  at  once  bold  and  heroic.  On  either  side  of  the 
main  entrance  were  mammoth  Corinthian  pillars  fifty  feet  in  height,  while 
on  each  corner  and  from  the  center  of  the  building  pavilions  were  reared. 
The  corner  pavilions  were  connected  by  curtains,  forming  a  continuous 
arcade  around  the  top  of  the  structure.  The  rotunda  was  surrounded  by 
a  mammoth  glass  dome  1 30  feet  in  height.  All  through  the  main  vesti- 
bule statuary  was  placed  illustrative  of  the  industry  of  agriculture,  while 
similar  designs  were  grouped  all  around  the  grand  entrances  in  the  most 
elaborate  manner. 

At  first  sight  of  the  interior  of  the  building,  owing  to  the  great  variety 
of  displays  made,  the  visitor  gained  the  impression  of  a  mighty  jumble 
of  colors — a  vast  fair  in  which  each  exhibitor  had  sought  to  outdo  his 

neighbor  in  the  matter  of  brightness  or  adornment.    The  world  had  been 

255 


256 


AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING. 


ransacked  for  every  imaginable  article  of  food  stuffs,  and  more  than  half 
the  space  under  the  great  roof  was  taken  up  with  the  contribution  of 
foreign  nations. 

Everywhere  there  was  a  sense  of  crowding,  of  things  put  together  in 
the  very  smallest  space  possible,  but  this  was  owing  to  the  desire  of  the 
chief  of  the  department  to  get  all  he  could  inside  the  walls.  Symmetry 
of  form  was  sacrificed  to  this  requirement,  but  such  a  defect  was  hardly 
noticed  by  the  average  visitor.  His  desire  for  something  huge  was  grati- 


EQUESTRIAN    STATUTE    IN    THE    AGRICULTURAL    PAVILION. 

fied  ;  he  saw  great  stacks  of  product  piled  all  around  him  and  reaching 
high  into  the  air;  mountains  of  food  stuffs  on  all  sides.  All  varieties  of 
taste  were  catered  to  in  the  individual  displays,  but  the  ensemble  was 
not  altogether  pleasing.  It  was  only  from  the  east  and  west  galleries 
that  the  visitor  obtained  an  idea  of  the  immensity  of  the  general 
display. 

If  harmony  was  not  obtained,  however,   there    could   surely   be    no 
complaint  as  to  variety.     The  designers  of  the  pavilions,  booths  and 


AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING.  257 

other  structures  upon  the  main  floor  and  in  the  galleries  gave  full  vent 
to  their  imaginations.  Mosques,  towers,  castles,  temples,  pagodas  and 
structures  embracing  every  known  variety  of  architecture  crowded  upon 
each  other  in  pleasing  confusion,  and  offered  to  the  beholder  a  vision  of 
what  has  been  in  the  building  line  since  the  world  began,  and  what 
may  be  expected  in  years  to  come  where  the  laws  and  regulations  regard- 
ing such  things  are  lax. 

Europe's  Contributions. 

The  main  floor  of  the  great  hall  was  divided  between  foreign  countries 
and  the  States  composing  the  great  American  Union.  Other  nations 
than  the  United  States  occupied  the  space  north  of  the  grand  or  central 
aisle,  which  ran  east  from  the  main  entrance,  and  the  various  States  were 
to  the  south  of  it.  There  was  no  reason  why  the  visitor  should  be 
dazzled  by  the  multiplicity  of  displays  if  he  kept  the  plan  of  arrange- 
ment in  his  head.  When  he  reached  the  galleries  it  was  somewhat 
different,  for  there  he  came  across  exhibits  of  every  conceivable  kind, 
representing  the  work  of  thousands  of  private  individuals  and  presenting 
a  bewildering  array. 

Naturally  enough  the  Agricultural  Building  was  nothing  more  than  a 
sample  room  for  Mother  Earth.  It  was  essentially  a  business  place.  In 
the  Horticultural  Building  was  displayed  nature's  fripperies  and  gewgaws, 
her  ball  gowns  and  reception  dresses,  but  here  was  what  is  necessary  to 
the  life  of  man  ;  the  substantiate,  the  foundations  of  his  health  and  pros- 
perity. Sweetness  and  light,  however,  were  imparted  to  the  display  by 
the  trimming  of  its  component  parts  into  artistic  forms,  but  on  the  whole 
the  man  who  entered  the  Agricultural  Building  did  so  with  the  idea  that 
it  was  the  place  with  which  the  life  of  the  country  was  most  closely  con- 
nected, and  hence  was  more  representative  of  the  country  than  any  other 
structure  on  the  grounds. 

But  as  to  the  displays  of  the  nations  from  over  the  sea.  The  mighty 
countries  of  the  European  continent  were  here  prepared  to  assert  them- 
selves and  claim  the  attention  they  consider  their  due.  Great  Britain, 
France,  Russia,  the  wheat  field  of  Europe,  and  Germany  were  given  the 
largest  areas,  and  these  were  divided  to  the  best  advantage. 

Manufacturers  of  Beverages. 

England's  exhibit  was  in  a  measure  a  disappointment  to  those  who 
formed  their  own  ideas  as  to  what  the  showing  of  the  mistress  of  the  seas 
should  be,  but  what  the  parent  island  lacked  the  colonies  amply  atoned 
for.  Great  Britain  made  a  magnificent  whiskey  showing,  no  less  than 
sixteen  manufacturers  of  alcoholic  beverages  having  obtained  good  posi- 

17 


238 


AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING. 


tions  for  the  display  of  their  wares.  If  the  British  exhibit  only  included 
sugar  and  lemons  nothing  more  could  possibly  have  been  wanting.  As 
to  cereals,  there  was  the  usual  arrangement,  together  with  preparations 
of  fruits,  which  were  tastefully  shown. 

Cheese  curios,  which  formed  an  important  part  of  the  British  exhibit, 
and  one  cheese  in  particular,  from  Cheddar,  made  in  1845,  were  for 
reasons  apparent  and  obvious  even  to  the  unthinking,  confined  closely 
in  a  glass,  case  which  was  not  opened. 


GROUP    ON    THE    AGRICULTURAL    BUILDING. 

Brightness  was  a  characteristic  of  the  English  section,  gaud}'  show- 
cases of  every  description  abounding,  bearing  in  gilt  letters  the  names 
of  exhibitors  and  the  wares  displayed.  A  feature,  however,  that  did  not 
come  under  the  head  of  shopkeeping  exhibits  Was  the  model  of  the  stud 
farm  of  the  husband  of  the  Baroness  Burdett-Coutts,  at  Highgate,  not  far 
from  London.  Every  detail  in  the  model,  from  the  clock  tower  over  the 
stable  to  the  horses  in  the  stalls,  was  faithfully  reproduced.  This  farm  is 
one  of  the  largest  of  the  kind  in  the  world,  and  breeders  viewed  the 
model  with  much  more  than  ordinary  interest 


AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING.  259 

Australia  and  Canada. 

Australia  and  Canada  come  to  the  front  most  aggressively  and  with  a 
determination  to  be  both  seen  and  heard.  The  greater  part  of  the  space 
allotted  to  the  former  was  appropriated  by  New  South  Wales,  which 
constructed  a  pavilion  almost  entirely  of  bales  of  wool.  This  structure 
claimed  no  particular  originality  of  design,  its  chief  merit  being  the 
unique  character  of  the  material  composing  it.  It  was  appropriate, 
however,  as  New  South  Wales  is  a  famous  sheep-raising  country.  Inside 
of  this  woolen  rampart  there  was  an  exhibit,  tastefully  arranged,  of  all 
the  agricultural  products  of  the  most  advanced  of  the  great  divisions  of 
the  island  continent.  A  feature  of  the  pavilion  was  a  large  and  solid  ox 
wagon,  constructed  for.travel  in  the  bush.  It  was  built  especially  for  the 
exhibit  here  by  a  firm  in  Sidney. 

Canada's  pavilion  was  rather  an  imposing  edifice,  being  topped  by  a 
mammoth  stuffed  deer,whose  many  branched  antlers  stretched  out  far  and 
wide.  Beside  this  monarch  of  the  glen  stood  the  plough.  In  the  centre 
the  Dominion  trophy  rose  to  a  height  of  24  feet,  with  the  Canadian 
arms  emblazoned  on  the  front.  There  was  a  lavish  use  of  bunting,  which 
tended  to  give  the  pavilion  a  very  gay  and  picturesque  appearance.  At  the 
sides  were  rows  of  shelves  upon  which  stood  long  lines  of  sample  jars 
containing  the  products  of  the  Canadian  soil.  Each  province  in  the 
Dominion  was  represented,  the  showing  in  each  instance  being  a  creditable 
one. 

Like  the  parent  country  Canada  had  something  in  the  cheese  line 
itself,  consisting  of  a  cheese  weighing  twenty-six  thousand  pounds. 
The  milk  of  ten  thousand  cows  made  up  the  bulk  of  this  monster,  and 
it  was  neccessary  to  strengthen  that  part  of  the  floor  upon  which  it  rested. 
Canada  boasted  that  all  cheeses  in  the  history  of  the  world  must  give 
way  to  this.  It  stands  alone  in  point  of  size  and  weight  and  acknowl- 
edges no  rival  whatever. 

Ontario,  Quebec  and  the  North-western  provinces  of  the  Dominion 
erected  trophies  in  the  large  pavilion,  which  was  filled  with  the  products 
of  the  various  districts. 

Germany  Does  Well. 

No  European  nation  displayed  a  more  complete  or  representative  col- 
lection of  its  agricultural  products  than  Germany.  The  pavilion  in  which 
her  exhibits  were  shown  was  a  huge  affair,  the  design  being  that  of  a  quad- 
ruple arch.  Elaborate  mouldings  lent  an  effect  of  lightness,  and  so  well 
porportioned  was  the  structure  and  so  well  adapted  to  the  exhibits  that  it 
did  not  seem  to  be  out  of  place  among  the  lighter  and  more  flimsy  pavilions 


260  AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING. 

around  it.  The  Germans,  apparently,  had  not  built  for  the  few  months  of 
the  Exposition,  but  for  years  to  come.  The  German  position  was  a  fine  one, 
being  almost  immediately  under  the  great  dome,  over  which  the  scantily 
draped  and  golden  Diana  so  daintily  hovered. 

Cereals  and  fruits  of  every  kind  grown  within  the  boundaries  of  the  Ger- 
man Empire  were  displayed  in  all  forms,  and  as  in  every  other  department 
of  the  Exposition,  Germany  made  a  showing  of  which  the  people  of  the 
Empire  have  no  reason  to  be  ashamed.  There  was  one  feature  of  the 
exhibit,  though,  that  struck  one  as  somewhat  strange.  As  each  foreign 
country  made  a  special  feature  of  its  chief  staple,  one  would  naturally 
associate  Germany  with  the  brewing  industry.  Yet  Germany  did  not 
vaunt  her  beer,  but  made  a  special  feature  of  her  mineral  waters.  Her 
malt  liquors  were  properly  displayed,  as  a  matter  of  course,  but  for 
every  gallon  of  beer,  she  offered  two  gallons  of  water  from  her  famous 
springs. 

Wheat  in  all  forms  was  the  prevailing  characteristic  of  the  Russian 
display,  although  her  other  cereals  and  her  fruits  made  an  excellent  show- 
ing. The  interest  taken  by  the  Empire  of  the  Czar  in  the  Exposition  was 
clearly  shown  in  this  department,  where  it  entered  as  a  competitor  of  the 
United  States  as  a  wheat  growing  country.  The  Russian  pavilion  was  not 
so  gaudy  as  some  others,  but  it  was  filled  with  interesting  material  for 
those  who  wished  to  study  closely  the  differences  existing  between  the  pro- 
ducts of  this  country  and  those  of  its  great  rival. 

Beautiful  French  Pavilion. 

France  had  a  beautiful  pavilion,  for  her  Commissioners  could  not  bear 
the  thought  that  Germany  should  surpass  her  in  anything.  It  was 
complete  in  every  detail  and  most  elaborate  in  finish,  while  the  manner 
of  the  arrangement  of  the  exhibits  was  decidedly  artistic. 

The  Island  of  Ceylon  had  one  of  the  most  elaborate  and  ornate  pavil- 
ions in  the  building,  situated  near  the  corner  at  the  left  of  the  main  en- 
trance from  the  west.  A  dozen  dark-skinned  carpenters  spent  weeks  of 
patient  labor  upon  it,  and  it  was  indeed  a  thing  of  beauty,  being  fashioned 
in  the  highest  style  of  the  joiner's  art.  There  was  a  time  when  Ceylon 
was  famous  for  her  coffees.  Now  she  claims  special  distinction  because 
of  her  teas  and  hardwoods.  The  latter  were  shown  by  the  timbers  in  her 
pavilion — curiously  carved  pillars  of  ebony,  satinwood,  kumbuk,  pallu, 
margosa,  and  other  native  woods.  Some  of  the  carvings  represented 
high  gods,  others  were  leaf  tracings,  while  yet  others  seemed  the  out- 
come of  the  weirdness  of  Oriental  fancy.  Ceylon's  merchants  looked 
for  great  results  from  this  display. 


AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING. 


261 


Brazil,  now  a  sister  republic,  sent  the  entire  national  display  from  the 
Exhibition  at  Rio  Janeiro,  in  1892.  Coffee  was  naturally  the  staple  of 
the  exhibit,  and  was  in  evidence  from  the  berry  to  the  liquid  in  the 
breakfast  cup.  The  entire  process  of  its  production  from  first  to  last  was 
elaborately  illustrated,  and  a  series  of  samples  showed  the  different  varie- 
ties. It  was  the  most  complete  showing  Brazil  has  ever  made. 

Now,  the  stunted,  little  considered  Kaffir  comes  to  the  front  from  Cape 
Colony,  but  his  display  is  more  of  an  ethnological,  than  an  agricultural 
character.  Ornaments  that  deck  the  persons  of  the  dark-skinned  savages 


GROUP    ON    THE    AGRICULTURAL    BUILDING. 

on  saints'  and  fast  days,  as  well  as  state  occasions,  are  shown  in  the  greatest 
profusion,  together  with  necklaces  that  form  a  combined  gown  and  crino- 
line for  the  maids  or  matrons  who  wear  them.  Such  a  toilet,  however, 
would  hardly  be  considered  ample  enough  in  this  country,  even  in  these 
days  of  decollete  dressing.  In  fact,  South  Africa  comes  up  with  a  fasci- 
nating exhibit,  but  not  one  intended  to  convey  a  very  strong  idea  of  the 
progress  made  by  the  Kaffirs  in  the  particular  line  of  agriculture. 

Products  from  Denmark. 

The  stork  of  Denmark  took  his  roost  hard  by  the  South  African  ostrich 
perched  on  the  roof  of  one  of  the  two  cottages  that  formed  the  Danish 
pavilion.  In  contrast  to  the  showy  and  elaborate  edifices  on  every  side 


262  AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING. 

of  them,  these  cottages,  whose  quaint  roofs  were  covered  with  thatch 
and  whose  windows  contained  picturesque  diamond-shaped  panes  of 
glass,  presented  quite  an  old  time  appearance  and  diffused  an  atmosphere 
of  the  long  ago.  In  fact,  such  dwellings  as  these  were  a  grateful  relief 
from  the  brilliancy  and  garishness  that  was  the  characteristic  of  so 
many  of  the  pavilions.  Denmark's  display  was  a  very  complete  one. 

Ornamental  Mexican  Pavilion. 

Mexico,  being  immediately  to  the  south  of  us,  felt  it  her  bounden  duty 
to  give  to  the  people  of  this  country  a  correct  idea  of  what  she  really  is 
and  can  do,  and,  therefore,  for  the  purpose  of  housing  her  display,  erected 
a  pavilion  more  solid  and  substantial  than  that  of  any  other  country. 
Ornamental  iron  gateways  formed  the  entrances,  and  the  same  metal 
furnished  the  material  for  much  of  the  interior  furnishing.  Since 
American  enterprise  invaded  the  land  of  the  Montezumas,  Mexico  has 
made  great  progress  in  both  agriculture  and  mining. 

France's  colonies,  Anam  and  Tonquin,  had  a  pavilion  of  their  own,  and 
did  not  make  their  display  with  the  home  government.  This  pavilion 
was  in  the  form  of  a  huge  dome,  surmounted  by  a  star  and  crescent. 

So  far  as  taste  was  concerned  Holland  was  not  behind  any  of  her  big 
sisters  in  the  design  of  her  pavilion.  Its  front  was  a  broad  archway, 
with  Columbus  on  either  side,  creating  an  effect  that  was  pleasing. 

Italy,  although  she  came  in  late,  made  the  best  of  the  time  afforded 
her,  and  was  well  represented,  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  Greece, 
Paraguay,  Honduras  and  numerous  other  countries. 

Japan  had  a  clever  display,  consisting  chiefly  of  teas  and  the  methods 
used  in  that  country  for  the  cultivation  of  the  silkworm.  The  kingdom 
of  the  Mikado  was  better  represented  in  other  buildings  than  in  this, 
although  her  exhibit  in  this  was  extremely  creditable  as  far  as  it  went. 
Japan's  contribution  to  the  exhibit  of  silk  culture  was  a  valuable  one. 

The  best  illustration  of  silk  culture  was  made  by  the  Woman's  Silk 
Culture  Association,  of  Philadelphia.  This  association  has  been  respon- 
sible in  a  great  degree  for  the  general  interest  taken  in  this  country  in 
the  raising  of  silk  worms  and  the  production  of  raw  silk.  Silk  worms 
were  shown  in  their  different  conditions,  together  with  all  the  appliances 
used  for  reeling  silk  from  the  cocoons  and  preparing  it  for  the  manu- 
facturer. France  and  Spain,  also,  made  fine  showings. 

Fine  Display  of  New  York  State. 

In  a  style  no  less  magnificent  than  that  which  characterized  the  dis- 
plays of  foreign  nations  the  various  States  of  American  Union  came  for- 
ward with  exhibits.  New  York,  properly  enough,  was  given  the  greatest 


AGRiCf  LTURAL 


amount  of  space,  and,  while  the  Empire  State'  did  not  See  fit  to  erect  a 
pavilion  that  vied  in  gorgeousness  with  those  of  some  of  the  Western 
States,  her  showing  was  a  remarkably  good  one,  and  a  compreherJsive1 
one  also.  The  State  exhibit  included  grain,  grasses,  cereals,  animal  and 
vegetable  fibres,  root  crops,  tobacco,  hops  and  honey*  She  also  had  d. 
handsome  display  in  the  dairy  department;  Of  individual  exhibits  therg 
were  agricultural  machinery  in  the 
annex,  food  preparations,  canned 
goods,  tobacco,  cigars,  liquors,  con- 
fectionery, chocolates  and  numerous 
other  articles.  In  fact,  New  York 
made  herself  felt  and  was  apparent  all 
over  the  big  building.  The  location 
of  the  New  York  State  exhibit  was 
a  very  favorable  one,  being  at  the  east 
end  of  the  main  avenue  and  having 
a  frontage  on  the  avenue  of  nearly  60 
feet. 

Nearly  every  State  had  its  pavilion, 
although  the  Western  States,  naturally 
enough,  made  the  most  complete  exhi- 
bits. To  visitors  from  abroad  these 
combined  exhibits  were  a  revelation, 
illustrating  as  they  did  the  infinite 
variety  of  soil  capacities  between 
Maine  and  California  and  Canada  and 
the  Gulf. 

Missouri,  for  instance,  was  at  some 
pains  to  make  a  striking  display. 
She  produced  the  great  St.  Louis 
bridge  in  miniature,  made  of  corn  ear 
and  wheat  straw.  The  massive  piers 
were  of  golden  corn,  the  supports  of 
cane,  and  the  model  was  faithful  to  THE  HOROSCOPE  GROUP 

the  very  last  straw.  Louisiana  had  ON  THE  AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING. 
a  complete  exhibit  that  attracted  attention.  The  New  Orleans  Cot- 
ton Exchange  sent  cotton  enough  to  supply  a  province.  Louisiana's 
other  staple  products,  rice  and  sugar,  were  not  forgotten.  The  rice 
exhibit  was  a  peculiarly  handsome  one. 

Kentucky  boasts  of  producing  more  than  half  of  the  tobacco  of  this 
country,  and  it  was  to  be  expected  that  the  weed  would  occupy  a  promi- 


264  AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING. 

nent  place  in  her  exhibit.  This  expectation  was  not  disappointed,  for  the 
"  weed  divine "  indeed  occupied  the  post  of  honor.  Tobacco  leaves 
drooped  from  the  cornices  and  columns  of  the  pavilion,  and  were  utilized 
in  every  possible  way  for  purposes  of  decoration. 

Nebraska  imported  a  corn  castle,  and  corn  was  king  there.  Exalted 
on  a  pedestal  in  the  centre  of  the  pavilion  was  the  genial  goddess  of  the 
corn  plant.  Cornucopias,  showing  the  products  of  the  State,  adorned  the 
walls,  and  the  eight  pointed  arches  of  the  pavilion  were  covered  with  corn 
in  the  ear. 

The  Green  Mountain  State. 

Vermont  runs  to  maple  sugar,  and  she  showed  this  toothsome  article 
in  every  variety  and  shape.  Her  building  was  one  of  the  sights  of  the 
group  of  State  structures.  The  Green  Mountain  State  had  her  agricul- 
tural display,  of  course,  but  her  main  attraction  was  her  sugar. 

Wisconsin  had  a  pavilion  that  was  a  marvel.  It  was  of  Moorish 
architecture,  and  has  more  gaudy  domes  and  pinnacles  than  could  well 
be  counted.  It  is  a  maze  of  embellishments  crowded  into  a  small  area. 
Corn  halved,  quartered  and  cut  into  slits  and  fashioned  into  stars,  dia- 
monds, hearts,  clubs  and  spades,  all  standing  out  in  relief  from  a  colored 
background,  confront  the  visitor  at  all  points. 

Illinois  has  a  huge  pavilion  with  wheat,  corn  and  oats  fancifully 
arranged  in  all  parts  of  it.  Ohio  has  a  gable-ended  building  in  which  to 
show  her  products,  while  Pennsylvania  has  occupied  the  space  allotted  to 
her  with  a  dome-covered  edifice.  In  making  the  rounds  of  the  State 
pavilions,  however,  there  is  more  or  less  monotony,  even  in  the  variety 
offered,  unless  the  visitor  cares  to  make  a  careful  study  of  the  displays 
made  by  the  different  States.  The  wheat-growing,  corn-producing  States 
in  the  main,  present  the  same  features,  although  differently  arranged  and 
put  together,  perhaps;  the  tobacco  and  cotton  States,  and  all  the  others 
which  have  a  specialty,  offer  a  surfeit. 

Agricultural  Machinery. 

In  the  southern  annex  to  the  Agricultural  Building  is  a  display  of 
machinery  representing  the  advances  made  from  the  time  when  men  dug 
into  the  earth  with  sticks  to  prepare  it  for  the  reception  of  crops.  The 
primitive  plough  is  there,  and  by  its  side  is  the  latest  product  of  the 
inventive  genius  of  man.  There  are  also  machines  which  gather  up  the 
grain,  thrash  it,  bind  it  and  do  everything  else  save  make  it  into  bread. 
No  one  can  readily  understand  what  has  been  done  in  the  way  of  im- 
provement of  agricultural  machinery  until  he  has  seen  and  studied  this 
exhibit. 


AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING. 


265 


The  galleries  are  devoted  entirely  to  the  display  of  American  food 
products  in  the  manufactured  form,  and  in  the  north-east  section  can  be 
found  an  unusally  comprehensive  display  of  cereal,  starches,  canned  goods, 
phosphates  and  the  like.  As  individual  firms  furnish  the  bulk  of  the 
exhibits  in  this  section  many  of  the  displays  are  of  the  most  elaborate 
description.  The  spirit  of  rivalry  is  very  keen  indeed,  this  being  shown 
by  the  character  of  the  various  booths  erected,  and  this  business  com- 
petition has  led  to  the  expenditure  of  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars 
in  ornamentation  and  adornment.  Money  has  been  lavishly,  if  not  fool- 
ishly, spent  in  many  cases  in  the  fitting  up  of  some  the  booths.  There 


A    BEER    PAVILION    IN    AGRICULTURAL    BUILDING. 

are  no  spaces  in  the  gallery  that  are  not  filled.  Honeys,  spices,  flours 
and  dairy  fittings  and  appliances  test  the  capacity  of  this  section  and  the 
displays  made  of  these  products  are  both  unique  and  tasteful. 

The  Bitter  and  Sweet. 

The  south-west  section  of  the  gallery  is  devoted  to  the  exhibits  of 
tobaccos,  mineral  waters  and  liquors.  Biscuits,  sugars  and  confections 
make  a  toothsome  display  in  the  northwest  section  of  the  gallery 
Louisiana  has  a  fine  showing  of  cane  sugars,  and  Vermont,  Ohio  and 
Wisconsin  vie  with  each  other  in  setting  before  the  world  the  merits  of 
their  maple  sugars.  The  display  of  American  beet  sugar  is  nothing 


266  AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING. 

worth  bragging  about.  This  sugar  is  produced  principally  in  France  and 
Germany,  whose  displays  are  on  the  main  floor.  It  may  interest  some 
people  to  know  that  Hawaii  has  no  exhibit  of  sugar,  although  it  is  the 
main  product  of  the  island. 

Makers  of  confectionery  come  out  very  strongly  in  this  section  and 
have  displays  that  make  the  mouths  of  the  feminine  and  juvenile  visitors 
water  copiously.  The  candy  men  have  from  the  very  first  shown  their 
eager  desire  to  make  a  creditable  display  of  their  wares,  and  in  that  por* 
tion  of  the  gallery  set  apart  for  them  is  to  be  found  sweetness  in  every 
conceivable  form.  Chocolate  manufacturers  have  been  especially  active 
in  their  preparations,  and  one  New  York  firm  exhibits  a  colossal  statue  of 
Columbus,  weighing  seventeen  hundred  pounds,  made  entirely  of  choco- 
late. 

Pavilions  For  Malt  Liquors. 

The  brewers  of  malt  liquors  have  not  been  behind  in  their  demands, 
as  is  evidenced  from  the  fact  that  they  occupy  the  entire  west  gallery  for 
their  display.  Some  of  the  pavilions  here  are  veritable  works  of  art,  the 
great  brewers  of  St.  Louis,  Milwaukee,  Chicago  and  Cincinnati  having 
entered  keenly  into  the  competition.  Malt  liquors  of  all  grades  are 
shown  here,  principally  in  bottled  form,  while  the  majority  of  the  firms 
represented  indulge  in  a  general  distribution  of  samples  put  up  in  attractive 
forms. 

This  west  gallery  is  a  most  attractive  spot.  The  various  processes 
and  appliances  for  fermenting,  distilling,  bottling  and  storing  beverages, 
both  malt  and  alcoholic,  are  found  in  the  implement  annex  to  the  build- 
ing to  the  south.  This  includes  model  cellars,  vats,  stills  and  rectifying 
apparatus  of  every  kind. 

Of  more  than  passing  interest  to  the  public  at  large,  is  the  agricultural 
experimental  station  on  the  main  floor  in  the  south-west  corner  of  the 
building,  constructed  upon  the  plans  adopted  by  the  United  States 
government  for  its  stations  throughout  the  country.  Almost  next  to  it 
the  French  Republic  has  erected  an  agricultural  teaching  station  similar 
to  those  found  at  every  agricultural  college  in  that  country.  These  two 
stations  constitute  one  of  the  most  valuable  exhibits  in  the  agricultural 
department. 

The  model  station  of  the  United  States  is  the  suggestion  of  the 
National  Association  of  Agricultural  Colleges,  and  is  under  the  personal 
supervision  of  Professor  Henry  E.  Alford,  chairman  of  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  National  Association.  It  is  complete  in  every  detail. 
There  is  a  fully  equipped  laboratory  where  daily  tests  are  made  to  deter- 
mine the  fertility  of  soils  left  for  analysis.  The  milk  and  butter  tests  in 


AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING. 


267 


connection  with  the  dairy  exhibit  are  also  conducted  within  the  laboratory. 
This  country  borrowed  the  idea  of  scientific  farming  from  France,  and 
her  teaching  station  will  undoubtedly  be  the  means  of  giving  us  still 
further  information.  The  laboratory  is  the  main  feature  of  the  French 
station.  Photographs  and  drawings  serve  to  illustrate  the  methods  of 
tilling  the  soil  in  France,  as  well  as  the  harvesting  of  crops.  A  wooden 
model,  10  feet  in  width  by  14  feet  in  length,  occupies  a  conspicuous  posi- 
tion in  the  station,  and  shows  a  properly 
equipped  French  farm  to  the  minutest 
detail. 

While  but  little  attention  has  been  paid 
to  the  exhibits  on  the  second  floor  of  the 
Agricultural  Building  there  is  material  on 
exhibition  there  which  is  of  the  greatest  in- 
terest to  all  who  visit  the  Fair.  It  is  the 
exhibit  of  manufactured  food  products,  and 
a  few  others  which  are  not  absolutely 
essential  to  the  sustaining  of  human  life. 

The  great  majority  of  the  booths  are  of 
symbolic  and  artistic  design.  A  firm  from 
Cairo,  Egypt,  which  manufactures  cigar- 
ettes, has  a  handsome  booth  modeled  on 
the  architectural  plan  of  an  Egyptian  tem- 
ple, with  sphinx  and  pyramids  grouped 
about  in  artistic  style.  The  panels  of  both 
the  interior  and  exterior  of  the  temple  are 
covered  with  the  hieroglyphics  of  ancient 
Egypt,  but  which,  translated  into  English, 
are  merely  common,  everyday  advertising. 
They  simply  tell  that  Mr.  So  and  So's 
cigarettes  are  the  best  on  earth,  and 
that  life  can  never  be  fully  appreciated 
without  having  inhaled  some  of  the  smoke  STATUE  OF  PLENTY. 
from  the  delicate  weed  of  which  they  are  manufactured.  Further  east  a 
New  York  firm  of  tobacco  manufacturers  has  an  exhibit  which  is  striking 
in  its  artistic  effect.  The  booth  is  modeled  after  the  Corinthian  style 
of  architecture,  except  that  the  pillars  are  square  instead  of  round. 
This  was  done  in  order  that  the  pillars  might  have  glass  put  in,  so 
as  to  show  the  many-colored  varieties  of  smoking  tobacco  with  which 
the  columns  are  filled.  The  rest  of  the  material  of  which  the  booth  is 
constructed  is  of  red  mahogany,  highly  polished  and  with  gold  trimmings. 


268 


AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING. 


A  cigar-manufacturing  firm  has  a  case  which  is  made  of  a  combination 
of  highly-polished  mahogany  and  rosewood,  constructed  in  the  form  of  a 
truncated  pyramid,  with  a  globe  resting  on  top  with  a  miniature  caravel, 
representing  the  "  PintaV  mounted  on  the  globe.  Two  statues  of  Columbus 
carved  in  mahogany  represent  him  first  as  peering  over  a  chart,  and  in 
the  second  pose  as  just  having  sighted  land.  A  third  statue,  in  wood, 
represents  an  American  Indian  in  the  attitude  of  a  hunter.  Around  the 
main  pyramid  are  small  pillars  of  highly-polished  and  beautifully- veined 
marble,  with  gold  mounted  caps.  Around  the  entire  exhibit  is  a  velvet 
rope  stayed  by  polished  brass  posts. 

Coming  to  the  more  necessary  products  of  tlie  soil  which  have  been 
put  into  more  convenient  form  for  use  through  the  agency  of  machinery 
one  of  the  first  to  attract  attention  is 
an  old-fashioned  country  mill  with 
water  wheel  and  millstones.  The 
exhibit  is  made  by  a  Duluth  milling 
company  which  has  a  very  fine  exhibit 
of  flour  made  by  modern  roller  pro- 
cess. The  millstones  are  only  twenty- 
four  inches  in  diameter,  but  show  the 
marks  of  use  as  well  as  age. 

Probably  the  most  interesting 
exhibit  on  this  floor,  and  one  worth 
going  many  miles  to  see,  is  a  choco- 
late exhibit  from  New  York.  In  a 
large,  handsomely-constructed  booth, 
Mr.  Maillard  has  set  up  statues  of 
Venus,  Minerva  and  Christopher  Col- 
umbus, all  cast  in  chocolate.  There 
are  two  statues  each  of  Venus  and  Minerva.  The  statue  of  Venus  is 
modeled  after  the  celebrated  statue  found  at  Milo.  Both  it  and  the 
statue  of  Minerva  are  wonderfully  exact  reproductions,  the  facial  expres- 
sion being  brought  out  as  well  as  in  the  best  reproductions  in  marble. 

Another  unique  exhibit  is  a  star-shaped  pyramid  of  soap  made  by  a 
Philadelphia  firm.  The  pyramid  rests  on  a  thirteen-sided  base  which 
rises  about  two  feet  above  the  floor.  On  the  faces  of  this  pedestal  are 
carved  the  names  of  the  original  thirteen  States.  On  top  of  the  pyramid 
is  a  statue  in  soap  of  the  woman  who  made  the  original  stars  and  stripes. 
She  is  represented  in  the  attitude  of  sewing  on  the  flag.  On  the  base 
upon  which  the  statue  rests  is  the  following  explanation  in  raised  letters: 
"  Birth  of  Our  Nation's  Flag." 


REPLICA  OF  THE  OLD  MILL. 


AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING.  269 

One  cereal  company  has  a  booth  of  handsome  design,  representing  a 
sort  of  mediaeval  castle  with  turret-like  projection  at  the  corners.  In 
these  turrets  are  miniature  statues  of  Ceres.  Their  display  of  the  various 
products  which  they  turn  out  is  large  and  attractively  arranged. 

Chief  Buchanan,  of  the  Agricultural  Building,  said  yesterday  that, 
while  the  second  floor  of  his  building  had  not  received  the  attention  its 
merits  deserve,  he  thought  it  would  eventually  come  in  for  even  a  greater 
share  of  attention  than  the  floor  below. 

Passengers  on  the  intramural  railroad  can  step  from  the  car  to  a  plat- 
form which  leads  to  this  floor  of  the  building. 

For  Horse  Fanciers. 

In  the  Agricultural  Building  there  is  a  model  of  the  famous  Brookfield 
stud,  owned  by  E.  Burdett-Coutts,  Member  of  Parliament  for  Westmin- 
ster, London,  which  is  known  as  the  "  Pioneer  Stud  of  the  New  Era  in 
Horse  Breeding."  The  model  stands  under  the  dome  of  the  building 
and  covers  a  plot  of  about  8  by  12  feet.  It  is  intended  to  show  the 
arrangements  of  one  of  the  finest  horse-breeding  farms  in  England,  and 
great  expense  has  been  incurred  in  making  the  model  an  exact  repre- 
sentation of  the  famous  stud  in  Highgate  road,  London. 

Mr.  Burdett-Coutts  started  out  in  his  peculiar  line  of  horse  breeding 
partly  from  philanthropic  motives.  He  considered  that  the  hackney, 
carriage  or  cab  horse  had  been  sadly  neglected  in  England,  and  he 
determined  to  devote  most  of  the  time  he  had  to  spare,  outside  of  his 
Parliamentary  duties,  to  breeding  such  horses.  The  spot  which  he  chose 
in  London  for  this  purpose  is  almost  in  the  centre  of  the  city  and  covers 
a  large  area. 

The  boxes  have  mangers  especially  shaped  to  avoid  injury  to  the 
horses.  All  the  shoeing  of  the  establishment  is  done  at  one  corner  of 
this  circle.  Connecting  with  it  are  five  straw  yards  used  for  exercise. 
The  buildings  shown  on  the  model  represent  stabling  for  about  seventy- 
five  horses.  Outlining  part  of  the  grounds  are  separate  constructions 
accommodating  about  thirty. 

Brought  Hackneys  Into  Popularity. 

Mr.  Burdett-Coutts  started  out  with  the  idea  of  preserving  and  devel-  , 
oping  certain  old  English  breeds  of  harness  and  riding  horses,  such  as 
the  hackney  Cleveland  bay,  the  Yorkshire  coach  horse  and  pony.  His 
success  has  been  undoubted.  He  considered  that  some  of  the  most  val- 
uable strains  were  in  danger  of  disappearing  from  England,  owing  to  the 
constant  demand  of  foreigners  and  the  fact  that  the  attention  of  English 


270  AGRICULTURAL  BUILDING. 

breeders  was  almost  absorbed  in  the  production  of  hunters,  race  horses 
and  cart  horses. 

At  that  time  there  was  no  demand  for  English  hackneys.  The  novelty 
of  the  enterprise,  however,  attracted  much  attention,  and  the  value  of  the 
breeds  was  demonstrated  in  a  remarkable  manner.  Mr.  Burdett-Coutts 
would  never  admit  foreign  horses  into  Brookfield  from  the  belief  that  the 
finest  stepping  horses  came  from  certain  defined  and  hereditary  but 
hitherto  unrecognized  home  breeds,  and  this  has  gone  a  long  way  to 
restore  the  English  market  for  high-priced  harness  horses  entirely  to  the 
English  breeder. 

On  a  screen  near  the  model  of  the  stud  are  ranged  a  series  of  oil 
paintings  of  the  famous  horses  owned  by  Mr.  Burdett-Coutts.  The  first 
one  is  the  well-known  Candidate.  Then  comes  an  oil  portrait,  by  S. 
Carter,  of  Beau  Lyons,  the  young  colt  that  swept  the  board  at  the  three 
greatest  English  shows  of  1889,  winning  first  prizes  at  the  Hackney,  the 
Royal  and  the  great  Yorkshire  shows.  He  wai>  subsequently  sold  to  go 
to  America,  where  he  won  first  prize  for  hackneys  over  1 5  hands  high 
in  1891. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
Horticultural  Exhibit. 

WE  will  now   conduct   the    reader  through  the  Exposition 
grounds,  and  point  out  the  magnificent  floral  display.  The 
reader  is  supposed  to  be  visiting  the  Fair,  and  is  'here 
presented  with  a  charming  view  of  the  world's  most  ex- 
quisite flowers  and  beautiful  shrubs.    Loveliest  of  all  that  the  world  offers 
to  the  memory  of  Columbus  in  the  city  of  white  palaces  is  the  splendid 
horticultural  display.     Mr.  John  Thorpe,  who,  it  has  been  humorously 
remarked,  can  make  a  dry  stick  blossom,  is  the  real  head  of  this  depart- 
ment.    He  presides  over  a  vast  building,  from  the  middle  of  which  rises 
a  glass  dome  122  feet  high  and  180  feet  in  diameter. 

But  the  most  notable  point  in  horticulture  is  the  outdoor  exhibition. 
Right  in  front  of  the  huge  building  is  a  wooded  island  in  the  lagoon. 
From  its  shores  trail  aquatic  plants  in  curious  patterns.  At  the  southern 
end  is  a  garden  of  fifty  thousand  roses  laid  out  in  a  labyrinthal  design 
and  surrounded  by  a  garlanded  fence  of  roses  eight  feet  high.  In  the 
centre  rises  a  pagoda  covered  with  clematis  of  all  hues.  This  garden 
contains  over  sixteen  thousand  varieties  of  the  roses. 

The  Old  Favorites  are  Here. 

There  are  forty-eight  exhibitors,  and  they  have  revived  many  of  the 
roses  that  were  once  fashionable  but  have  been  forgotten.  Two-thirds  of 
the  roses  are  hardy,  and  the  rest  are  tender,  like  tea  roses  and  other 
varieties  that  need  the  protection  of  hothouses  as  a  rule.  The  finest  dis- 
play comes  from  Belfast,  Ireland,  but  California,  Holland  and  Germany 
are  close  competitors.  The  beauty  and  fragance  of  this  spot  may  be 
imagined  by  the  fact  that  the  margin  of  each  group  of  roses  is  made  up 
of  flowering  honeysuckles  trailing  on  the  ground. 

Just  south  of  the  rose  garden  are  the  rhododendrons  of  England,  Hol- 
land, Belgium  and  America  grouped  for  effects  of  massed  color,  and 
scattered  among  them  are  hundreds  of  Japanese,  European  and  Ameri- 
can lilies. 

Turning  northward  on  the  little  island  the  visitor  comes  to  a  plateau 
of  old-fashioned  English  garden  flowers,  the  sort  of  things  Lord  Bacon 
mentions  in  his  quaint  plan  of  a  perfect  garden.  Here  are  marigolds> 
Sweet  Williams,  primroses,  larkspurs,  Michaelmas  daisies  and  scores  of 

other  sentimental  suggestions, 

271 


272  HORTICULTURAL  EXHIBIT. 

Then  comes  a  large  group  of  trees  and  shrubs  gathered  together  for 
strange  contrasts  of  leaves  and  showing  departures  from  normal  types. 
There  are  quivering  aspens,  tall  poplars,  beeches,  birches,  willows,  maples, 
elms,  ashes  and  similar  trees,  all  leading  toward  a  dainty,  sweet-smelling 
garden  of  annual  flowering  plants  like  sweet  peas  and  mignonette. 

Floral  Loveliness. 

Beyond  this  are  to  be  found  all  manner  of  flowering  shrubs — spirea 
dutzia,  hydrangea,  Rose  of  Sharon — and  still  further  on  the  German 
group  of  evergreens,  among  them  rare  cedars,  junipers,  arbor  vitae  and 
tameracks.  Rising  in  the  green  confusion  are  clusters  of  dahlias. 

Here  the  Japanese  village,  surrounded  by  its  native  garden,  comes  into 
view.  This  garden  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  sights  on  the  island. 
It  is  cared  for  by  Japanese  gardeners  in  costume,  and  working  with  prim- 
itive apparatus.  All  sorts  of  dwarfed  pines,  cedars  and  other  growths 
mingle  their  fantastic  shapes  in  the  general  plan,  from  which  the  visitor 
can  at  a  glance  see  the  origin  of  much  that  is  wild  and  grotesque  in  the 
decorative  art  of  Japan.  There  are  many  wonderful  palms  and  stunted 
trees  that  have  grown  for  centuries  and  are  still  vigorous.  The  Eastern 
effect  is  heightened  by  rockwork  and  tinkling,  murmuring  waterfalls. 

Coming  back  from  the  island  by  a  graceful  bridge  one  stands  in  the 
roadway  facing  the  east  fa9ade  of  the  Horticultural  Building,  and  sees 
spread  out  before  him  a  gorgeous,  spectacular  display  of  massed  crim- 
son, scarlet,  orange  and  salmon-colored  French  cannas  displayed  by  New 
York,  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey.  This  magnificent  field  of  color  is  a 
thousand  feet  long  and  eighty  feet  deep.  It  contains  over  twenty  thou- 
sand plants  in  bloom.  And  behind  this  royal  scarlet  pomp,  in  the 
recesses  between  the  main  entrance  and  the  wings,  are  planted  over  a 
hundred  thousand  pansies.  Thirty-seven  thousand  of  them,  selected  for 
the  beauty  of  their  tints,  are  combined  in  one  vast  scroll-like  design. 
There  are  in  this  exhibit  six  hundred  and  forty  varieties  of  pansies,  rep- 
resenting the  growers  of  the  whole  world.  The  cannas  and  pansies  are 
out  of  doors,  and  form  a  striking  base  for  the  fine  architecture  of  the 
monster  building. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  building  is  an  outdoor  exhibition  of  small 
greenhouses  and  gardens,  showing  how  easily  and  cheaply  they  may  be 
obtained  and  kept.  This  display  is  intended  to  encourage  amateurs  to 
go  further  than  potted  plants  placed  in  sunny  windows,  and  to  inspire 
garden  building  among  the  common  people. 

Inside  of  the  building  under  the  vast  dome  is  a  tropical  forest  covering 
a  mountain,  at  the  base  of  which  are  arranged  the  most  beautiful  plants 


HORTICULTURAL  EXHIBIT. 


273 


known.     New  York,  New  Jersey,  and  Pennsylvania  each  have  a  third  of 
the  space  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain.     Here  are  to  be  found  the  late  Jay 


ORNAMENTAL  VASE  AND  FLOWERS. 

Gould's  costliest  palms,  A.  J.  Drexel's  rare  growths,  George  W.  Childs' 

sago  palms  and  tree  ferns — in  fact,  the  bulk  of  his  fine  collection — and 
18 


274  HORTICULTURAL   EXHIBIT. 

remarkable  specimens  from  the  conservatories  of  J.  B.  Colgate  and  Eras^ 
tus  Corning.  In  the  tropical  forest  are  six  or  eight  century  plants,  and 
they  have  been  selected  so  that  there  will  always  be  one  in  bloom  during 
the  Fair.  Mr.  Thorpe  has  scoured  the  country  for  specimens  of  the 
night-blooming  cereus  and  has  secured  over  two  hundred.  This  will 
enable  him  to  show  two  or  three  in  bloom  every  evening  by  electric 
light. 

Under  the  tangled  growth  of  the  forest  is  a  crystal  cave.  The  walls 
and  roof  contain  four  carloads  of  crystals  and  stalactites  brought  from 
Deadwood.  The  cave  is  lit  by  electricity.  Water  drips  from  the  stalac- 
tites and  flashes  into  crystal  pools.  In  this  glittering  space,  the  Horti- 
cultural department  make  seed  tests,  and  keep  growing  plants  in  order  to 
learn  how  long  they  wIH  live  under  a  strong  electric  light. 

Australia's  Floral   Wonders. 

Australia  leads  all  other  countries  in  the  range  and  character  of  her 
display.  The  Australians  have  explored  the  wilderness  in  search  of  hor- 
ticultural wonders,  and  have  sent  to  Chicago  specimens  so  rare  and  won- 
derful that  the  senders  themselves  may  never  again  see  their  equals 
Think  of  tree  ferns  thirty  feet  high,  with  their  fairylike  branches 
spreading  out  over  your  head  like  vast  green  plumes.  Horticulturists, 
who  have  traveled  far  and  wide,  look  with  amazement  at  these  extraordi- 
nary ferns,  and  examine  them  for  hours. 

Then  there  are  birds'-nest  ferns,  with  a  spread  of  ten  feet,  rising  to  a 
height  of  eight  feet.  The  staghorn  ferns,  which  attach  themselves  to 
teakwood  trees  and  in  time  suffocate  them,  are  monsters.  Nothing  like 
them  has  ever  been  seen  before.  Some  of  them  are  from  six  to  eight  feet 
high  and  seven  to  eight  feet  in  diameter.  They  are  perched  on  teak- 
wood  stumps  and  overgrown  with  vines,  illustrating  the  conditions  in 

which  they  thrive. 

Japanese   Beauties. 

In  one  of  the  wings,  the  Japanese  have  built  an  indoor  garden,  with  lit- 
tle fish  ponds,  bridges,  lighthouses,  pillar  lanterns  and  a  well.  The  odd 
groupings  of  small  flowers  are  surrounded  by  spaces  filled  with  sand  of 
various  colors,  on  which  are  traced  patterns,  which  change  every  day. 
The  sand  takes  the  place  of  grass  in  a  Japanese  indoor  garden.  In  order 
not  to  disturb  these  traceries  the  visitor  steps  on  stones  laid  in  an  irregu- 
lar pathway.  This  garden  is  entirely  the  work  of  the  Japanese,  and  no  one 
else  is  permitted  to  touch  it.  A  glance  reveals  the  fact  that  they  are  con- 
tent with  flowers  as  they  find  them,  and  make  no  attempt  at  hybridiza- 
tion or  cross-culture  of  any  kind.  They  have  no  double  roses.  There 


HORTICULTURAL   EXHIBIT. 


275 


never  was  a  simpler  or  more  certain  evidence  of  the  influences  that  have 
governed  Japanese  decorative  art  from  time  immemorial. 

Germany  has  an  exhibition  of  azaleas,  palms  and  rhododendrons  with- 
out a  touch  of  grace  or  imagination  about  it.  Belgium's  section  is  filled 
up  with  bay  laurels  and  handsome  tree  peonies.  Great  Britain  has  a 
superb  array  of  orchids  from  Kew  Gardens  and  other  conservatories. 

A  Horticultural  Museum. 

All  through  the  British  exhibit  can  be  found  proof  that  England  is  the 
country  for  rare  and  costly  plants,  and  that  in  spite  of  American  million- 
aires a  higher  price  will  be  paid  in  London  for  a  really  unique  plant  than 
in  any  other  place.  There  seems  to  have  been  an  understanding  among 
the  British  exhibitors  that  no 
ordinary  plants  should  be  sent, 
so  that  their  section  is  really  a 
sort  of  horticultural  museum. 

Mexico  has  a  good  showing 
of  orchids  and  cacti,  Costa 
Rica  displays  coffee  plants  and 
Guatemala  illustrates  all  her 
peculiar  native  growths. 

In  the  big  American  sec- 
tion are  to  be  seen  all  the 
notable  plants  of  commerce, 
such  as  sugar-canes,  coffees, 
teas  and  dyes.  The  famous 
anthurium  from  the  White 
House  is  there  to  be  seen  with 
its  long,  slender  leaves  and 
scarlet  flower.  Missouri  is  con- 
spicuous for  its  yuccas,  century  plants  and  india-rubber  trees.  Massachu- 
setts furnishes  rare  palms,  and  among  them  is  the  fine  Cocus  Australus? 
from  the  conservatory  of  Professor  Sargeant,  of  Harvard  University. 

Beautiful  curtains  of  blooming  Copea  scandens  hang  from  every  con- 
ceivable point  of  the  beams  and  ceiling.  The  whole  interior  of  the 
building  is  draped  in  this  delicate  greenery,  touched  with  purple  blossoms. 
The  vines  have  been  so  skillfully  arranged  that  at  times  they  seem  to  be 
part  of  a  woven  fabric  through  which  the  light  softly  filters  from  above. 
Here  and  there  in  unexpected  nooks  are  pitcher-plants,  ice-plants,  sensi- 
tive plants  and  Venus'  fly-traps.  Visitors  are  allowed  under  proper 
supervision  to  experiment  with  some  of  the  curious  growths. 


GROUP    OF    PALM    TREES. 


276  HORTICULTURAL   EXHIBIT. 

In  order  to  heighten  the  general  effect  of  the  horticultural  display 
there  will  be  masses  of  begonias  and  other  brilliant  flowers  grouped 
about  in  the  green  spaces  from  time  to  time.  Sixty-five  huge  bushes  of 
Marguerites  and  a  similar  number  of  scarlet  sages  are  mingled  together 
in  one  effect  for  the  opening  day. 

The  cut-flower  show  consists  principally  of  roses,  hyacinths,  tulips, 
lilies  and  carnations.  They  are  followed  by  peonies,  ivies,  and  contem- 
poraneous blossoms.  To  the  west  of  the  Horticultural  Building  are  the 
great  greenhouses,  in  which  delicate  or  miniature  plants  are  kept  ready 
for  exhibition.  Between  the  greenhouses  are  situated  the  furnaces  and 
the  room  in  which  seeds  are  planted. 

How  the  Flowering  Plants  Were  Obtained. 

It  surprises  visitors  to  know  that  most  of  the  lovely  flowering  plants 
which  bear  the  names  of  distant  countries  were  not  brought  to  America 
in  pots.  The  horticultural  department  simply  received  the  dry  seeds 
with  brief  descriptions  of  the  plant  and  the  names  of  the  exhibitors. 
A  majority  of  these  seeds  were  planted  in  boxes  in  1892  by  Mr.  Thorpe's 
assistants  and  were  developed  during  the  winter. 

The  horticultural  department  found  that  outside  of  New  York  State 
and  one  or  two  points  in  other  Eastern  States  there  is  no  real  floriculture 
worth  speaking  of.  This  exhibition  will  have  a  wonderful  effect  in  stim- 
ulating a  love  for  rare  growths,  and  just  as  sculptures  in  the  art  section 
will  soon  begin  to  appear  in  the  architecture  of  the  Western  towns  and 
cities,  so  the  marvelous  flowers  and  leaves  brought  from  the  famous 
conservatories  of  the  world  will  take  their  places  in  thousands  of  Western 
conservatories. 

Five  acres  were  set  apart  for  a  nursery  exhibit  at  the  western  entrance 
to  Midway  Plaisance.  Chief  Samuels  made  every  arrangement  for  a 
complete  display  of  the  native  plants,  flowers  and  fruits  of  all  nations,  and 
the  display  is  of  interest  as  well  as  instructive.  Germany  has  taken  a  full 
acre,  while  France  occupies  half  as  much  space.  The  display  of  fruit  trees 
seeds  and  vines  in  these  two  sections  rivals  the  exhibit  from  the  Pacific  slope 
Michigan  has  an  acre  to  show  what  a  peach  orchard  can  do,  while  cran- 
berry plants  from  the  marshes  of  Wisconsin  bear  fruit  in  a  nursery  marsh 
constructed  on  scientific  principles.  An  acre  is  set  apart  for  orange  trees, 
part  of  a  semi-tropical  display  made  by  a  Californian.  Evergreens  are 
here,  too,  in  every  variety,  and  trees  and  shrubs  from  all  quarters  of  the 
globe.  Nurserymen  from  Indiana,  Illinois,  Kentucky,  Missouri  and 
other  States  fill  the  gaps  with  splendid  displays. 

Cut  flowers  are  the  special  features  on  certain  dates.     On  these  days 


HORTICULTURAL  EXHIBIT. 


277 


blossoms  of  orchids,  roses,  carnations,  pansies,  cannas,  lilies,  tulips,  hya- 
cinths, store  and  greenhouse  flowers,  and  hardy  herbaceous  or  bulbous 
flowers  are  placed  in  jardinieres  for  inspection. 

The  May  exhibit  of  orchids  attracted  great  attention  on  account  of  the 
variety,  beauty  and  value  of  the  specimens.     There  were  eighty-five  dis- 


FOLDING  FLOWER  STAND  AND  FERNERY. 

tinct  species  in  one  collection,  a  specimen  orchid  which  was  perfected 
with  extraordinary  care  for  the  event,  and  a  general  collection,  embracing 
many  hundred  varieties.  Each  of  the  specimens  was  remarkable  for  rarity 
or  perfection  of  form  and  coloring. 

Every  Tuesday  during  the  Fair  a  display  of  cut  flowers  is  made.    The 
triangular  spaces  under  the  galleries  on  the  east  side  of  the  dome  are 


278  HORTICULTURAL  EXHIBIT. 

fitted  up  as  boudoirs,  in  which  are  shown  cut  flowers  and  ornamental 
receptacles  for  plants,  such  as  flower  pots,  plant  boxes,  fern  cases,  jardi- 
nieres and  flower  stands,  which  come  under  the  scope  of  the  floricultu- 
ral  bureau. 

The  Roses  in  Bloom. 

June  is  the  month  in  which  the  island  blossoms  at  its  best.  Roses 
have  the  prestige  and  flower  in  reckless  profusion  along  every  path  upon 
it.  Fifty  thousand  plants,  embracing  every  species  and  of  every  color, 
offer  their  tributes  of  blossom,  and  fill  the  air  with  fragrance.  Many  of 
the  plants  have  been  arranged  so  as  not  to  be  disturbed  in  order  to  make 
room  for  the  other  outdoor  displays  of  the  month.  These  remain  fixtures 
during  the  summer.  The  roses  are  principally  grown  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  Japanese  temple,  and  cluster  so  thick  in  that  section  of  the  island  as  to 
give  it  the  appearance  of  one  of  the  rose  valleys  of  Asia  Minor.  This 
display  is  not  only  pleasant  to  the  visitor,  but  replete  with  good  results 
in  forwarding  the  industry  of  rose  cultivation  in  this  country  and  in 
Europe. 

Next  to  the  rose  exhibit  the  most  interesting  and  brilliant  display  is 
the  cannas.  Red,  crimson  and  yellow  varieties  of  these  tall  flaglike 
plants  with  vividly  green  leaves  adorn  the  beds,  chiefly  around  the  Horti- 
cultural Building.  The  greater  number  of  the  cannas  are  planted  upon 
the  east  slope,  where  there  are  forty  beds.  These  beds  which  slope  to 
the  lagoon  show  alternate  masses  of  brilliant  colors,  as  if  some  giant 
had  dipped  a  brush  in  blood,  or  ochre,  and  plastered  up  the  bright 
contrasts. 

During  June  are  transplanted  to  the  island  pyrethums,  iris,  lilies,  cle- 
matis, flowering  shrubs  and  hardy  flowering  greenhouse  plants  to  add 
to  the  wilderness  of  color  already  furnished  by  the  roses. 

July  continues  the  outdoor  rose  exhibit  as  far  as  possible,  and  in  addi- 
tion has  special  displays  of  gladiolus,  cannas,  flowering  annuals,  old-fash- 
ioned hollyhocks  and  miscellaneous  annuals,  such  as  the  phlox,  zinnias, 
begonias,  and  sweet  peas.  These  last  named  have  special  attention. 
Seeds  from  nearly  all  prominent  seedmen  have  been  received,  including 
many  newly-discovered  varieties. 

The  Novel  Elkhorn  Plant. 

One  of  the  largest  parasitical  plants  known  is  the  elkhorn  of  Australia, 
so  called  from  the  peculiar  form  of  its  leaves.  The  plant,  of  which  a 
number  of  specimens  are  shown,  grows  around  the  trunks  of  trees,  its 
leaves  growing  close  together  in  the  form  of  an  immense  cup  from  three 
to  five  feet  in  diameter.  This  cup  forms  a  sort  of  cemetery  for  bodies  of 


HORTICULTURAL  EXHItfif.  279 

small  animals  which  may  fall  into  it  and  which  serve  to  manure  the  plant. 
The  bones  oflizards  and  small  rodents  were  found  in  several  of  the  plants 
brought  to  Chicago. 

Over  sixty  different  species  of  palms  were  shown,  with  several  hundred 
specimens  collected  in  the  East  and  West  Indies,  South  America  and  the 
Orient.  The  hardy  varieties  were  added  to  the  landscape  effects  of 
wooded  island,  as  were  almost  innumerable  plants  of  the  fern  species. 
Other  varieties  which  help  to  make  the  island  a  botanical  paradise  are 
the  cacti,  ornamental  leaf  plants,  aquatics  and  exotics.  The  leaf  plants 
are  serviceable  as  borders,  while  the  shrubbery  begonias  in  flower  are  the 
contribution  of  the  exotic  kingdom.  All  along  the  water  front  the  col- 
lection of  hardy  aquatics  is  placed  until  the  island  appears  to  be  simply  a 
mass  of  verdure,  reaching  to  the  water's  edge. 

Blossoms  on  the  Lagoon. 

The  aquatics  along  the  lagoon  have  been  augmented  by  arrivals  from 
abroad  and  less  hardy  plants  that  can  only  stand  exposure  in  the  warm- 
est weather.  August  adds  to  the  quota  of  the  wooded  island's  treasure, 
verbenas,  climbing  plants,  asters,  ornamental  grasses,  flax  and  hydrangeas. 
During  this  month  the  Japanese  make  a  display  of  bamboos,  which  are 
particularly  beautiful  as  ornamental  shrubs.  September  has  much  the 
same  display  as  the  previous  month.  In  October  comes  the  chrysan- 
themum show. 

In  arranging  the  different  species  from  foreign  nations  Mr.  Thorpe  had 
the  assistance  of  the  foreign  representatives  to  the  horticultural  depart- 
ment, so  that  the  Japanese  section  was  from  the  hands  of  a  native  artist, 
and  the  tulip  fields  bear  a  close  resemblance  to  those  of  Holland  because 
of  the  assistance  of  a  Dutch  enthusiast. 

Choice  Varieties  of  Apples. 

When  the  Fair  opened  there  was  a  pomological  display  of  early  fruit 
in  the  northwestern  and  southwestern  curtains  of  the  Horticultural 
Building.  It  made  a  beautiful  and  tempting  array  and  did  great  credit  to 
California  and  Florida,  the  great  American  rivals  in  the  production  of 
citrus  and  other  semi-tropical  fruits.  A  large  number  of  the  States  also 
made  excellent  exhibits  of  pomaceous  and  other  deciduous  fruits — fresh, 
preserved  and  in  jar.  In  the  northern  end  of  the  southwestern  curtain 
Los  Angeles  County,  California,  was  represented  by  a  tower  of  oranges 
32  feet  high  and  5  feet  in  diameter  at  its  base,  graduating  up  to  4  feet  and 
capped  in  an  ornamental  way.  The  base  was  14  feet  square,  and  the 
placing  of  the  golden  fruit  was  artistically  done.  Upon  entering  the 


280  HORTICULTURAL  EXHIBIT. 

north  door  of  this  curtain  the  visitor  first  saw  as  handsome  a  lot  of  apples 
from  Maine  as  ever  came  out  of  a  cold-storage  process,  seemingly  pos- 
sessing all  the  bloom  and  freshness  which  characterize  this  pomological 
staple  when  plucked  from  the  tree.  There  were  thirty-five  varieties  in 
this  exhibit,  nicely  arranged  on  one  hundred  and  eighteen  plates. 

The  visitor  next  came  right  upon  the  tower  of  oranges,  and  the 
impression  was  pleasant  and  surprising.  At  a  little  distance,  going 
south,  there  was  a  long  centre-table,  containing  splendid  varieties  of 
Malta  bloods,  Mediterranean  sweets,  Wilson  seedlings,  Joppas,  St. 
Michaels,  Konahs,  and  Australian  and  Washington  navels — the  latter 
being  the  aristocrat  of  the  orange  family.  There  were  also  fine  displays 
of  Lisbon,  Sicily,  Villa  Franca,  Bonnie  Brae  and  Eureka  lemons,  shad- 
docks, pomelos,  grapefruit  and  China  lemons,  citron  of  commerce, 
Mexican  limes  and  apples,  representing  San  Diego,  Orange,  Los  Ange- 
les, San  Bernardino  and  Ventura  counties.  There  were  two  shelved 
tables  on  each  side  of  the  centre  one,  containing  fruits  in  jar  and  on 
plate,  representing  the  above-named  California  counties. 

Liberty  Bell  in  Oranges. 

At  the  other  end  of  this  curtain  is  a  large  platform  of  oranges  and 
lemons,  in  the  centre  of  which  is  a  fine  effigy  of  Independence  Bell  in 
oranges  and  lemons.  All  around  this  are  large  and  small  pyramids  of 
oranges  and  every  variety  of  lemons,  shaddocks,  and  grape  fruit,  which 
have  been  arranged  by  San  Diego  people  with  selected  fruit  from  their 
county. 

On  the  eastern  side  table  is  a  splendid  exhibit  of  oranges  from  Ventura 
County  and  on  the  western  table  are  unsurpassed  arrangements  of  citrus 
fruits  from  San  Bernardino  County,  conspicuously  from  Redlands  and 
Riverside.  On  the  left  side  of  the  south  door,  going  out,  is  an  excellent 
exhibit  of  olives,  olive  oil,  and  preserved  limes  by  Frank  A.  Kimball,  of 
National  City,  and  oranges  and  lemons  from  Pomona  and  Pasadena. 
There  is  also  a  miscellaneous  collection  of  Sultana  grapes  in  jars  and 
Sultana  raisins  in  boxes. 

s 

Besides  their  effigies  of  fruit  the  Californians  have  1, 600  plates,  con- 
taining seven  varieties  of  oranges,  five  of  lemons  and  two  of  limes.  They 
also  show  twenty-seven  varieties  of  fruits  and  seven  of  vegetables  in  jars. 
There  is  also  an  exhibit  of  asparagus  from  Delaware  and  a  German 
exhibit  of  artificial  fruits. 

Canadian  Cold-Storage  Display. 

Upon  entering  the  south  door  of  the  northwest  curtain  the  immense 
Canada  display  of  fresh  fruits  that  have  been  preserved  'in  cold  storage 


HORTICULTURAL  EXHIBIT.  281 

and  fruit  in  solution  is  seen.  This  space  consists  of  two  long  centre  and 
two  sidetables,  occupying  one-fourth  of  the  entire  curtain,  upon  which 
the  agents  of  the  Dominion  have  placed  eighteen  varieties  of  fruits  and 
eight  of  berries  (900  plates  and  over  4,000  jars),  representing  exhibits 
from  the  Provinces  of  Ontario  and  Quebec.  It  is  one  of  the  largest  dis- 
plays in  the  department.  In  the  centre  of  this  space  are  four  pagodas, 
tane  on  each  side  and  two  in  the  middle,  which  are  enlivened  with  splen- 
'did  specimens  in  jars,  much  of  which  is  from  the  Central  Experimental 
Farm  of  Canada.  Some  of  the  finest  of  these  fruits  are  from  Nova 
Scotia  and  Prince  Edward's  Island.  At  the  north  end  of  this  space  are 
four  small  pagodas,  upon  which  are  jars  of  miscellaneous  fruits  artistically 
placed. 

The  next  display  in  this  curtain,  moving  south,  is  made  by  Idaho, 
comprising  a  long  row  of  shelves  against  the  wall,  containing  400  jars  of 
fruit  and  vegetables  of  surprising  size  and  beauty.  On  the  right  is  a  dis- 
play of  immense  fruits  and  vegetables  in  jars,  and  a  display  of  apples  in 
jars  and  on  plates,  the  latter  numbering  800,  and  which  is  admitted  to  be 
the  finest  display  of  fresh  apples  in  the  hall.  There  are  Blue  Pearmains 
that  weigh  nearly  two  pounds,  and  "  Baby  Ruths  "  that  cannot  kick  the 
beam  at  two  ounces.  Among  the  best-known  apples  in  this  exhibit  are  the 
Newtown  Pippin,  White  Pippin,  Blue  Pearmain,  Red  Cheek,  Ben  Davis, 
Janiette,  Swaar,  and  a  number  of  others,  some  of  which  have  been  in  cold 
storage  as  an  experiment  since  1891. 

Washington's   Marvelous  Display. 

Idaho  also  exhibits  hard  and  soft-shell  almonds,  Malaga  and  Sultana 
raisins,  and  a  fine  lot  of  preserves.  There  are  also  thirty  boxes  of  silver 
prunes,  which  look  as  fine  as  any  French  or  German  prunes  ever  brought 
to  this  country,  except  that  they  are  much  larger. 

Upon  the  right  are  two  long  tables  extending  through  one-third  of  the 
hall,  which  contain  800  plates  of  fresh  apples  and  800  jars  of  miscella- 
neous fruits,  exhibited  by  the  State  of  Missouri. 

Next  to  Idaho  comes  the  State  of  Washington,  with  a  marvelous  dis- 
play of  fruits  and  vegetables,  the  vastness  of  which  no  one  can  possibly 
believe  from  merely  a  description.  These  consist  mostly  of  immense 
jars  of  many  fruits,  numbering  over  400,  and  about  300  plates  of  apples 
from  cold  storage. 

Between  the  west  central  door  of  this  curtain  Colorado  exhibits  a 
splendid  lot  of  apples,  forty-two  varieties  in  all,  nicely  displayed  on  940 
plates.  Against  the  wall  are  six  sets  of  double  mirrors,  with  candelabra 
on  either  side,  and  four  systems  of  shelving,  upon  which  are  placed  large 


2S-2  HORTICULTURAL   EXHIBIT. 

and  small  jars  of  miscellaneous  fruits.    Lighted  up,  this  is  one  of  the  most 
dazzling  places  in  the  curtain  and  invites  attention. 

Opposite  Colorado,  Oregon,  which  was  the  first  State  in  complete 
readiness,  and  which  opened  May  1st,  makes  an  exhibit  which  should  be 
seen  by  all.  It  is  a  wonderful  story  of  the  resources  of  that  State.  Its 
plan  of  display  is  remarkably  artistic  and  shows  its  many  varieties  of 
fruits  in  jar  and  on  plate  to  great  advantage.  In  all  there  are  four  hun- 
dred plates  of  apples  that  make  the  mouth  water,  and  two  hundred  and 
forty  immense  jars  of  fruit  in  solution.  There  are  monster  pears,  quinces, 
plums,  peaches,  apricots,  cherries  and  grapes,  any  one  of  which,  except 
the  two  latter,  would  do  for  dessert  for  a  medium-sized  family.  There 
are  ninety-six  cases  of  prunes,  sun-dried  apples,  pears,  plums,  peaches  and 
other  fruits.  There  is  probably  no  exhibit  in  the  Fair  over  which 
accomplished  housewives  with  reputations  to  live  up  to  will  linger 
longer  than  that  contributed  by  Oregon,  which  has  found  a  home  in  one 
of  the  southern  sections  of  the  Horticultural  Building.  For  to  good 
housekeepers  of  the  old  school  nothing  appeals  like  a  well-stocked  pre- 
serve closet,  and  here  is  row  after  row  of  every  fruit  known  to  women 
preserved,  as  far  as  form  and  color  are  Concerned,  beyond  the  wildest 
dream  of  excellence  of  the  ablest  woman  that  ever  weighed  sugar.  The 
size  of  the  fruit  is  one  of  the  things  in  which  Dr.  Lewis,  who  represents 
the  Oregon  Commission,  takes  especial  pride.  In  great  glass  jars  that 
are  three  feet  in  height  are  pears  that  weigh  four  pounds.  Cherries, 
berries,  apples,  peaches,  plums,  all  of  a  like  size  and  freshness  of  appear- 
ance, constitute  the  display,  and  until  women  learn  that  charcoal,  sulphur 
and  cinnamon  are  used  to  keep  them  in  such  good  condition,  and  that  they 
are  not  really  good  to  eat,  they  are  likely  to  cause  envyings  and  heart- 
burnings. 

Luscious  Fruits  From  Florida. 

Florida  has  the  place  of  honor  at  the  north  end  of  the  hall,  and  is 
approached  from  Oregon  and  Colorado  through  an  arch,  the  base  of 
which  is  lined  with  cocoanuts.  The  arch  is  made  of  oranges  and 
lemons,  and  is  an  excellent  contrivance  for  showing  off  these  delicious 
fruits.  In  the  center  of  this  space  is  a  mound  running  up  like  a  sugar 
loaf,  upon  which  are  oranges,  pineapples,  cocoanuts  and  other  fruits 
indigenous  to  the  prolific  soil  of  Florida.  Around  the  base  of  this 
mound  are  pineapples  in  fruit  and  foliage  in  boxes.  There  is  also  placed 
around  this  mound  eight  tables  loaded  with  oranges,  lemons,  pineapples, 
cocoanuts  and  other  Floridian  productions.  Bordering  this  space  are 
tables  covered  with  plates  of  citrus  fruits,  nearly  one  thousand  in  all. 
There  is  also  a  huge  cocoanut  tree  one  foot  thick,  filled  with  fruit,  and 


HORTICULTURAL   EXHIBIT.  283 

also  two  trunks  of  the  cocoanut  two  and  one-half  feet  through  at  the 
ground.  All  around  are  palms  and  luxuriant  foliage  plants,  imparting 
an  unmistakably  semi-tropical  atmosphere. 

A  miniature  mountain  of  trees  and  other  plants  is  one  of  the  attractions 
of  the  Horticultural  Building.  All  the  woodwork  is  covered  up  with 
umbrageous  palms  and  ferns  and  other  semi-tropical  plants.  These  high 
up  the  dome,  and  are  so  arranged  that  when  the  beautiful  exterior 
twinkles  with  incandescent  illuminations  the  higher  foliage  of  the  select  t 
offerings  from  Eastern  conservatories  betrays  an  interstellar  appearance. 
Upon  this  mountain  the  beholder  may  gaze  upon  natives  of  China, 
Japan,  Central  and  South  America,  Mexico,  Southern  Europe,  the  East 
and  West  Indies,  California,  Australia  and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
Throughout  the  base  are  interstices  representing  bare  and  moss-covered 
rocks.  All  around  at  the  bottom  are  placed  aristocratic  palms  and 
ferns,  whose  tops  merge  gracefully  with  the  smaller  ones  upon  the 
mountain. 

Aladdin's  Cave  Reproduced. 

Underneath  the  mountain  is  a  second  edition  of  Aladdin's  Cave — a 
subterranean  mansion  of  many  chambers,  tapestried  and  wainscoted  with 
translucent  crystals,  and  brilliantly  and  artistically  illuminated.  When 
the  water  is  filtered  through  the  crystals  in  the  midst  of  incandescents, 
the  effect  is  gorgeous  and  spectacular,  and  none  care  to  miss  it,  as  it  is 
one  of  the  few  really  extraneous  panoramas  that  escaped  the  mercenary 
manipulations  of  the  beguiling  concessionaire. 

The  southeast  curtain  is  radiant  with  flowers,  Illinois  occupying  space 
at  the  extreme  end,  and  showing  a  pretty  collection.  Near  by  is  a  cactus 
patch  representing  some  of  the  dreary  spots  that  abound  in  New  Mexico, 
and  comprising  many  varieties  of  cacti,  the  creamy-flowered  yucca,  the 
Spanish  bayonet,  meschal,  cholla,  tuna,  and  some  others.  Massachusetts, 
directly  opposite,  contributes  a  number  of  fine  ferns,  one  of  which  has 
remarkable  spreading  leaves.  Missouri  also  makes  a  creditable  display, 
and  California  exhibits  a  few  cactaeceous  plants. 

The  place  of  honor  in  the  southeast  curtain  is  held  by  Pitcher  and 
Manda,  of  Short  Hills,  N.J.,  who,  at  the  request  of  Chief  Thorpe,  loaned 
their  collection,  which,  including  their  orchids,  is  valued  at  $50,000. 
These  occupy  a  large  space  running  down  the  middle  of  the  curtain,  1,500 
square  feet,  and  two  sections  west,  about  1,000  feet.  They  also  have 
2,300  square  feet  in  the  corner  on  the  right,  as  the  central  door  is  entered 
from  the  west,  and  7,300  square  feet  or  one-third  of  the  space  between  the 
main  promenade  and  base  of  the  mountain.  These  comprise,  beside 
palms  and  ferns,  many  other  stove  and  greenhouse  plants,  among  which 


284  HORTICULTURAL   EXHIBIT. 

are  eighteen  Australian  tree  palms,  believed  to  be  from  400  to  600  years 
old  ;  a  large  number  of  selected  crotons  of  red  and  yellow  ;  many  varie- 
ties of  dracaenas  and  some  superb  anthuriums  in  foliage  and  flower.  The 
latter  is  a  native  of  South  America.  Then  there  is  a  splendid  collection 
of  marantas,  with  their  great  luxuriant  zebra-striped  leaves. 

Fine  Collection  of  Ferns. 

There  are  a  great  many  varieties  of  ferns  that  are  seldom  seen  outside 
of  a  conservatory,  among  which  is  the  golden  fern,  a  native  of  Peru. 
This  is  unlike  any  other,  and  from  its  leaves  impression  may  be  made 
upon  a  coat  sleeve  or  other  cloths,  such  as  cassimere  and  the  like,  which 
would  be  mistaken  for  engravings.  There  are  many  exquisite  ferns 
unknown  to  but  a  few,  one  of  the  rarest  being  the  crested-sword  fern,  a 
native  of  South  America ;  golden  maiden-hair  fern,  tongue  fern,  and 
adianlum  Forleyeuse,  a  variegated  spurt  of  maiden-hair,  very  scarce. 

Among  other  rare  plants  in  this  collection  are  the  heliconia  aureo 
stuata,  with  broad,  sweeping  leaves  with  golden  stripes,  an  umbrageous 
plant  standing  six  feet ;  aspidiastia,  vivid  in  green  and  variegated  colors; 
eighteen  begonias  rex,  and  several  varieties  of  club  moss,  natives  of  the 
East  Indies;  collection  of  birds'-nest  and  stag-horn  ferns  from  Australia; 
more  club  moss  of  a  bluish-metallic  shade ;  a  native  of  the  South  Pacific 
Islands  ;  a  native  of  Japan,  the  largest  fern  in  the  collection,  being  eight 
feet  across,  and  which  was  set  out  in  three-inch  pots  three  years  before ; 
Pteris  Victoria,  named  after  the  Queen  of  England,  a  native  of  the  East 
Indies  and  Southern  Africa. 

This  collection  also  includes  Davala  Frjensis,  a  native  of  the  Fejee 
Islands  ;  a  superb  fern  known  as  Harefoot ;  pyramids  of  fern  asparagus 
of  many  varieties  ;  flowering  anthuriums  in  gaudy  blossom  and  rich  foli- 
age ;  a  large  collection  of  flowering  genista ;  one  hundred  azaleas  in 
orange,  red  and  crimson  flowers ;  the  same  number  of  hydrangeas, 
abundant  of  blossom.  There  are  also  eighty-four  varieties  of  pineapple 
plants  ;  one  hundred  and  fifty  varieties  of  palms,  thirty-two  of  sago  palms, 
or  cycads,  the  largest  of  which  was  presented  by  Dom  Pedro  to  Mr.  Van 
Alen,  of  Newport,  and  which  was  secured  for  the  Exposition.  There  are 
also  thirty-two  varieties  of  Norfork  pine  and  more  than  a  hundred  cocoa- 
nut  palms  nine  feet  in  height,  growing  out  of  the  nuts — quite  a  novelty. 

Flora  From  Far  Australia. 

In  the  northeast  curtain  Australia  divides  the  honors  between  Canada 
and  Japan.  Australia  is  represented  by  more  than  a  score  of  tree  ferns, 
hundreds  of  years  old,  and  a  large  number  of  birds'-nests  ferns  and  stag 


HORTICULTURAL  EXHIBIT.  285 

horns,  among  which  have  been  planted  more  than  two  thousand  plants, 
including  eighteen  varieties  of  tea-roses,  several  hundreds  of  tube-roses, 
begonias  and  marantas  and  other  enlivening  flowering  plants. 

The  Ontario  (Canada)  exhibit,  the  first  on  the  right  as  the  northeast 
curtain  is  entered,  is  from  public  and  private  conservatories  of  Toronto, 
and  comprises  some  fine  palms  and  fancy  crotons,  cacti  and  eucalyptus. 
Next  comes  the  Japanese  exhibit,  unique  and  interesting  in  all  details. 
There  is  a  deal  of  seeming  rural  sweetness  and  simplicity  in  well  and 
curb  and  in  tree,  bush  and  flower.  Farther  along,  up  against  the  north- 
east corner  and  then  again  in  the  northwest  corner,  are  some  contribu- 
tions from  Trinidad,  comprising  ferns,  palms,  bamboos,  crotons  and 
other  tropical  productions.  Returning,  there  is  a  rich  display  of  azaleas 
in  bloom,  rhododendrons,  lilies  of  the  valley  and  some  other  plants. 

Thousands  of  Bright  Pansies. 

Next  comes  Belgium  with  a  beautiful  exhibit  of  azaleas,  mollis  and 
other  rhododendrons  and  other  varieties,  also  four  bay  trees  coming  into 
bloom.  The  next  sight  is  a  novel  one,  being  a  mound  of  sixty-eight 
varieties  of  cacti,  including  a  number  of  species  never  before  seen  in  this 
country.  The- visitor  now  comes  full  upon  the  century  plant  in  perfect 
flower,  which,  while  not  gaudy  or  especially  attractive,  is  illustrious. 

In  the  northern  court  there  are  sixteen  thousand  pansies  ready  for 
emergencies  elsewhere,  and  which  can  be  removed  in  a  day's  notice. 
There  are  also  twenty  thousand  trees  of  many  varieties  of  a  tender  kind 
that  are  temporarily  placed  by  M.  Lemoinne,  who  has  charge  of  the 
plants  and  trees  of  the  French  Nation.  These  will  all  be  removed  and 
placed  near  the  Woman's  Building  and  upon  the  wooded  island  and  else- 
where by  the  2Oth  of  May  if  the  weather  will  permit. 

In  the  galleries  of  the  Horticultural  Building  there  have  been  hung 
forty-six  large  photographs  of  scenery  in  New  South  Wales,  and  there 
are  three  small  exhibits,  one  of  wire  basket  work,  another  of  willow  work 
and  an  herbarium. 

Wine  from  Many  Vineyards. 

The  south  pavilion  is  known  as  the  vinticultural  division.  The  exhibits 
are  those  of  the  Pleasant  Valley  Wine  Company,  the  Urbana  Wine  Com- 
pany, the  Brockton  Wine  Company  and  the  Lake  Keuka  Wine  Company, 
all  of  New  York,  and  the  magnificent  exhibit  of  New  South  Wales ;  the 
fixtures  of  the  American  Wine  Company  of  Missouri,  the  Mount  Pleasant 
Wine  Company  of  Missouri  and  the  Sweet  Valley  Wine  Company  of 
Sandusky,  Ohio ;  but  no  "  small  bottles  "  have  as  yet  been  displayed. 
California  exhibits  are  made  in  pavilions  by  the  Paul  Burns  Company  of 


286  HORTICULTURAL   EXHIBIT. 

San  Jose,  the  Alameda  County  Exhibit,  the  Daraszthy  Combination,  the 
Yuba  Exhibit,  the  Wetmore  Exhibit,  the  California  Collective  Exhibit 
and  some  ten  or  more  of  the  Golden  State. 

In  the  north  pavilion  Peter  Henderson,  the  great  florist  and  garden- 
seed  man  of  New  York,  has  his  exhibit  in  readiness.  The  Los  Nietos 
and  Ranchito  Walnut  Association  of  Los  Angeles  County,  California, 
has  a  splendid  exhibit,  which  has  been  ready  since  Monday  last.  This 
exhibit  is  in  the  shape  of  a  glass  tower  on  a  telescopic  pedestal  trimmed 
with  nickel,  and  quite  ornamental.  The  sections  are  filled  with  many 
varieties  of  hard  and  soft-shell  English  walnuts.  Another  exhibit  is  that 
of  Bishop  &  Co.,  of  Los  Angeles,  California,  of  crystalized  and  preserved 
fruits.  New  Jersey  has  an  exhibit  of  home-canned  jellies  and  jams  and 

pickles. 

The  Original  Cave. 

A  lady  journalist  who  visited  the  Horticultural  Building  furnishes  the 
following  entertaining  account  of  what  she  saw  in  this  world  of  beauty: 

That  crystal  cave  is  a  very  interesting  spot.  The  formations  were  all 
brought  from  the  wonderful  cave  by  that  name  in  South  Dakota,  which 
was  discovered  about  three  years  ago.  In  the  original  you  can  travel 
underground  fifty-two  miles.  Over  fourteen  hundred  crystalized  rooms 
have  been  explored  so  far,  and  there  is  no  knowing  how  many  more  there 
are.  At  present  thirty-two  beautiful  little  lakes  have  been  found,  and  the 
air  is  as  balmy  and  pure  as  if  the  cave  was  lighted  by  heaven's  light 
Each  room  has  different  formations  of  crystal. 

By  the  way,  "  Uncle  John  "  Thorpe,  the  chief  of  floriculture,  is  going 
to  try  an  experiment  with  electricity.  He  says  he  is  going  to  plant  some 
seeds  in  the  cave — this  miniature  cave.  The  seeds  will  come  up  in  little 
plants,  and,  never  having  seen  the  sunlight,  will  mistake  the  electric  light 
for  the  sun ;  as  night  and  morning  will  come  with  the  turning  on  and  off 
of  the  lights,  the  blossoms  will  sleep  and  awaken  and  never  know  that 
they  are  being  imposed  upon,  and  Uncle  John  Thorpe  is  a  most  wonder- 
ful man. 

Do  you  know  he  talks  to  and  of  his  flowers  as  if  they  were  human 
beings?  They  are  human  to  him.  His  belief  and  sincerity  that  they 
listen  and  talk  to  him  convinces  you — as  he  talks — that  everything  he 
says  is  true.  How  he  worships  those  flowers !  They  are  his  soul  and 
life.  Flowers  to  him  are  thoughts.  They  talk  to  him,  and  through  them 
he  talks  to  other  people. 

It  may  be  his  intuition  and  far-reaching  knowledge,  it  may  be  the  ten- 
der sympathy — the  sentiment  in  the  heart,  it  may  be  the  two  combined, 
but  certainly  in  hearing  Chief  Thorpe  talk  you  have  only  to  try  to  listen 


HORTICULTURAL   EXHIBIT.  287 

to  hear  the  beautiful  things  whisper  and  laugh,  and  see  them  nod  to  each 
other  and  to  him.  As  he  took  me  up  to  the  pansy  bed  he  said  good 
morning  to  the  pansies  as  I  would  say  it  to  you.  And  he  seemed  not  to 
think  it  was  peculiar,  or  that  I  would  think  it  so.  The  rude  and  peculiar 
thing  to  him  would  have  been  not  to  have  returned  their  bright  welcome. 
In  passing  a  magnificent  plant  with  delicate  pinkish-lavender  blossom — and 
with  a  name  so  long  I  dare  not  attempt  to  spell  it — he  took  off  his  hat 
with  the  respect  he  would  give  to  royalty,  and  he  seemed,  also,  uncon- 
scious of  that.  I  spoke  of  it. 

"  Oh,  yes,"  he  said,  "  every  man  should  take  off  his  hat  to  that — it  is 
a  queen."  He  took  me  to  a  place  reserved  to  give  old  people  happiness 
and  bring  back  to  them  thoughts  of  their  childhood.  He  said  : 

"  You  know  there  are  so  many  old  people  who  will  come  to  the  Fair 
who  have  not  learned  to  love  the  grand  new  flowers.  An  orchid  with 
all  its  loveliness  is  strangely  cold  to  them  because  it  is  a  flower  of  to-day 
and  has  not  come  out  of  their  past.  When  they  come  into  these  grounds 
the  white  palaces  and  the  white  columns  and  fountains  and  bridges  will 
all  seem  like  a  strange  dream.  They  will  be  awed  by  the  grandeur  and 
beauty  of  it  all,  but  they  will  not  be  at  home  until  they  come  here 
Here  they  will  see  the  flowers  that  will  tell  some  of  them  stories  they 
have  almost  forgotten  and  will  whisper  of  home  to  others.  There  will 
be  sweet  williams,  bachelor  buttons,  peonies,  dahlias,  larkspur,  colum- 
bine, phlox  and  all  the  rest  that  will  make  glad  the  old  heart." 

Paradise  of  Pansies. 

Then  he  took  me  to  the  "  Pansies'  Paradise."  Here  in  this  little  heaven 
he  places  all  the  finest  pansies.  Whenever  he  runs  across  an  unusually 
fine  specimen  he  transplants  it.  And  if  you  want  to  bring  down  an  aval- 
anche on  your  head  just  tell  the  Swiss  who  attends  to  those  pansies  that 
they  are  not  particularly  fine.  While  we  stood  looking  at  them  some 
ducks  came  waddling  along  from  the  water's  edge,  and  took  a  nibble  at 
some  of  the  pansies.  In  the  same  tone  of  voice  in  which  he  was  talking 
to  me  Chief  Thorpe  said: 

'*  Now,  see  here,  what  are  you  doing  ?  You  know  you  have  no  busi- 
ness here.  Go  right  back  where  you  belong." 

And  whether  the  ducks  did  not  like  the  pansies  or  whether  they  under- 
stood what  the  chief  said,  they  turned  around  immediately  and  went 
back.  The  ducks,  the  geese,  the  swans  and  the  sea-gulls  all  know  Chief 
Thorpe  as  well  as  do  his  flowers.  At  5  o'clock  in  the  morning  regularly 
he  comes  over  to  the  island  to  feed  them.  He  gives  a  peculiar  whistle 
and  they  come  to  him  from  all  directions.  He  says  the  public  will  never 


288  HORTICULTURAL   EXHIBIT. 

sec  the  beauties  of  the  World's  Fair  until  they  see  it  at  sunrise.  And 
his  voice  grows  tremulous  as  he  speaks  about  it. 

In  speaking  about  flowers  having  a  language  of  their  own,  some  one 
asked  Chief  Thorpe  if  he  thought  it  was  the  ambition  of  the  flower  to  be 
cut  from  the  stem.  The  grand,  grizzly  man — the  diamond  with  the  polish 
inside — said : 

"  The  flower  is  the  pride  and  vanity  of  the  plant.  It  is  satisfied  to  be 
sacrificed  for  the  pleasure  it  gives.  It  talks  through  its  blossoms.  To  be 
cut,  to  be  carried,  to  see  and  get  out  in  the  world  is  its  dissipation.  It 
dies  in  its  prime,  but  it  is  better  than  for  it  to  die  on  the  stem,  and  in 
dying  take  the  strength,  or  perhaps  crowd  out  the  birth  of  the  new." 

And  he  went  on  whittling  the  pine  stick  he  had  picked  up,  and  think- 
ing silently  for  a  few  moments.  He  did  not  seem  satisfied  with  his 
answer.  Perhaps  he  was  not  sure  that  he  knew  what  was  the  ambition 
of  the  flowers.  Perhaps  he  was  wondering  what  became  of  the  soul  of 
the  beautiful  blossom  that  nodded  and  smiled  at  him  as  he  passed. 


M 


CHAPTER   XIV. 
The   Art   Palace. 

UCH  of  the  aesthetic  interest  of  the  Exposition  naturally  cen- 
tered in  the  fine  arts  display.  The  structure  in  which  this 
exhibit  was  shown  was  a  little  removed  from  the  central 
court,  and  the  grounds  about  it  were  ornamented  with 
groups  of  beautiful  statuary. 

The  Palace  of  Fine  Arts,  designed  by  Mr.  C.  B.  Atwood,  of  Chicago, 
stood  in  the  Northern  portion  of  the  Exposition  grounds,  near  Fifty- 
seventh  street.  Its  main  entrances  were  to  the  north  and  south,  the 
latter  commanding  a  view  across  an  arm  of  the  lagoon,  with  the  wooded 
island  beyond  and  the  domes  of  the  Manufactures  and  Horticultural 
Buildings  to  the  right  and  left.  From  this  southern  entrance  visitors 
descended  by  terraces  to  the  boat  landing  on  the  lagoon ;  while  the 
northern  front  faced  a  wide  lawn,  beyond  which  the  State  buildings 
were  grouped. 

The  Fine  Arts  Building  was  of  pure  Grecian  Ionic  architecture.  It 
was  oblong  in  shape,  intersected  from  all  four  sides  by  a  great  nave  and 
tcansept,  100  feet  wide  and  70  feet  in  height,  with  a  dome  60  feet  in 
diameter  in  the  center.  Its  axial  length  was  500  feet,  its  width,  320,  or 
over  three  and  one-half  acres.  The  dome,  which  was  surmounted  with 
a  statue  of  the  type  of  the  famous  "  Winged  Victory,"  was  125  feet  in 
height.  Around  the  building  were  galleries  40  feet  wide.  At  the 
crossing  of  the  nave  and  transept  were  small  picture  galleries,  while  the 
collections  of  sculpture  were  displayed  on  the  main  floor.  On  each  side 
of  the  building  were  galleries,  20  feet  wide,  and  24  feet  above  the 
ground,  which  afforded  ample  space  for  displaying  the  sculptured  panels 
in  relief  and  many  paintings. 

The  Art  Palace  had  two  annexes,  a  little  to  the  north  of  it,  which 
were  connected  with  the  main  building  by  handsome  corridors.  The 
walls  of  the  loggia  of  these  colonnades  were  decorated  with  mural  paint- 
ings illustrative  of  the  progress  of  the  arts.  In  the  annexes  various  art 
exhibitions  were  placed.  The  four  great  portals  of  the  main  building 
were  richly  ornamented  with  sculpture,  and  on  the  frieze  of  the  exterior 
walls  and  the  pediments  of  the  principal  entrances  were  bas-reliefs  of 
19  289 


290  THE  ART   PALACE. 

the  old  masters.     This  was  the  only  suggestion  of  the  old  masters  any- 
where to  be  seen. 

Miles  of  Pictured  Beauty. 

Thus  in  a  matchless  white  palace  of  pure  Ionic  order  the  art  produc- 
ing nations  of  the  world,  for  the  first  time,  entered  upon  a  serious  com- 
petition with  the  painters  and  sculptors  of  America.  The  structure 
itself  was  worthy  of  the  pictured  grandeur  that  stretched  for  miles  under 
its  roof.  Every  line  was  full  of  quiet  beauty.  From  portal  to  portal 
it  was  a  noble  sermon  on  architecture.  In  looking  upon  this  building 
one  could  scarcely  imagine  how  it  could  have  been  otherwise,  it  was  all 
so  natural,  so  harmonious,  so  blended  to  its  purpose  without  apparent 
effort 

Here  were  gathered  the  best  modern  works  of  America,  France, 
England,  Germany,  Holland,  Russia,  Spain,  Belgium,  Italy,  Austria, 
Norway,  Sweden,  Japan,  Denmark  and  Mexico,  all  carefully  selected  by 
separate  national  juries  and  hung  upon  the  walls  as  representative 
creations.  There  can  be  little  doubt  that  this  was  the  most  important, 
as  well  as  the  most  extensive,  display  of  contemporaneous  art  that  has 
yet  been  made  in  any  country,  not  excepting  even  that  of  the  Paris 
Exposition.  Old  masters  were  excluded,  so  that  Americans  could  now 
see  for  themselves  the  position  which  their  country  occupies  in  compari- 
son with  other  countries,  and  the  more  intelligent  could  measure  the  in- 
fluence which  the  various  distinctive  schools  exert  in  the  aesthetic  life  of 
the  nation. 

This  is  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  America  that  such  an  exhibi- 
tion could  have  been  possible,  for  in  1876,  when  the  Philadelphia  Expo- 
sition was  opened,  there  was  scarcely  any  American  art  to  speak  of. 
But  the  honest  critic  who  walked  through  the  five  acres  of  galleries, 
with  their  145,852  square  feet  of  wall  space — to  speak  from  the  Chicago 
point  of  view — must  admit  that  America  now  holds  a  high  place  in  the 
art  world.  Americans  can  carry  their  heads  erect. 

x 

Painters  of  Renown. 

Of  course  the  largest  space  was  occupied  by  France,  which  for  many 
years  has  been  recognized  as  the  greatest  art  producing  country  of  the 
globe.  Almost  every  living  French  artist  of  prominence  was  repre- 
sented. This  exhibit  occupied  nearly  the  whole  of  the  east  pavilion 
and  included  sixteen  galleries.  It  especially  demonstrated  the  pre-emi- 
nence of  the  French  school  in  scientific  draughtsmanship,  and  gave  a 
good  opportunity  of  comparing  it  with  the  broader  methods  of  the 
Dutch. 


THE   ART   PALACE.  291 

Among  the  painters  of  every  nation  there  were  a  few  men  whose  art 
may  be  said  to  be  universal.  One  can  hardly  speak  of  Joseph  Israels 
as  belonging  exclusively  to  Holland  any  more  than  of  the  exquisitely 
poetical  art  of  Cazin  as  being  characteristically  French.  So  also  in 
Germany  are  painters  not  characteristically  German  as  one  considers 
German  art.  Menzel  is  far  above  the  German  school  in  his  technique ; 
so  are  Uhde,  Liebermann  and  Lenbach. 

If  the  exhibits  were  to  be  considered  from  the  standpoint  of  numbers 
the  French  were  strongest.  If  they  were  to  be  judged  by  the  average 
excellence  in  art  Holland,  without  doubt,  took  the  lead  among  foreign 
nations. 

With  the  exception  of  a  few  painters  like  F.  E.  Church,  Albert  Bier- 
stadt,  William  and  James  Hart,  E.  Wood  Perry,  James  and  William 
Beard,  J.  H.  Dolph  and  Thomas  W.  Wood,  every  American  artist  of 
reputation  contributed  pictures.  The  American  artists  are  practically  of 
three  classes — those  who  have  studied  entirely  in  this  country ;  those 
who  have  studied  abroad,  but  have  returned  to  America  and  partly 
shaken  off  foreign  influence,  and  those  who  have  remained  abroad, 
painting  very  much  like  the  artists  of  the  country  in  which  they  live. 

Americans  not   Imitators. 

In  the  report  published  by  the  French  government  on  the  Paris  Ex- 
position the  statement  was  made  that  when  one  stepped  from  the 
French  into  the  American  section  he  scarcely  was  conscious  of  a 
change — that  it  seemed  as  though  America  was  really  an  artistic  de- 
pendency of  France.  Yet  there  was  to  be  recognized  in  the  work 
shown  at  Chicago  a  good  deal  of  meritorious  painting  which  is  entirely 
independent  of  French  influence.  There  is  more  evidence  of  a  growing 
American  school  than  has  ever  been  given  before,  and  it  must  be 
remembered  that  the  paintings  were  all  submitted  to  local  juries 
throughout  America  before  being  accepted,  so  that  if  strong  works  were 
excluded  or  withdrawn,  it  was  due  to  a  new  and  more  or  less  desirable 
American  method  of  selection. 

A  thoroughly  American  painter  is  George  Inness.  Certainly  there 
is  not  a  more  virile  talent  in  landscape  painting  in  the  whole  world, 
even  in  France.  Inness  is  to  America  what  Cazin  is  to  France — 
original,  sympathetic,  poetic,  true  to  nature.  He  is  as  thoroughly  indi- 
vidual as  was  any  of  the  great  painters  of  the  Barbizon  school.  They 
showed  evidence  of  descent  from  the  old  Dutch  school,  but  in  the  new 
work  of  Inness  there  is  no  trace  of  any  dominating  influence  except  that 
of  nature.  In  the  pictures  by  which  he  was  represented  at  Chicago, 


292  THE   ART   PALACE. 

every  phase  of  his  art  was  shown — early  morning,  midday,  gorgeous 
sunset,  evening,  bright  sunshine,  clouded  skies,  the  most  placid  expres- 
sions of  nature  and  the  most  dramatic  effect  of  storm  clouds.  Of  all 
the  fourteen  galleries  assigned  to  America  it  was  the  unanimous  judg- 
ment of  the  foreign  art  representatives  that  Inness  holds  the  front  rank, 
and  that  his  pictures  will  stand  with  those  of  the  contemporaneous  land- 
scape painters  of  all  lands. 

Striking  Figures  on  Canvass. 

Eastman  Johnson  holds  among  American  figure  painters  a  position 
analogous  to  that  of  Inness  among  landscape  painters.  He  originally 
studied  in  the  Dusseldorf  school,  but  was  one  of  the  first  men  to  grow 
beyond  that  influence.  He  is  as  broad  in  his  methods  as  a  Dutchman. 
An  example  of  this  is  seen  in  his  "Nantucket  Symposium,"  which  might 
easily  be  attributed  to  a  strong  Dutch  painter.  Another  work  which 
shows  breadth  and  originality  is  his  "  Portraits  of  Two  Men."  Hif 
"  Cranberry  Harvest,"  a  bit  of  outdoor  nature,  is  as  fine  in  sentiment 
and  broad  in  technique  as  most  of  Jules  Breton's  work.  "A  Glass  with 
the  Squire,"  is  comparable  with  the  best  English  art  of  three-quarters  of 
a  century  ago,  a  reminder  of  David  Wilkie. 

There  are  several  Americans  whose  talent  is  recognized  the  world 
over.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned  James  McNeil  Whistler,  John 
S.  Sargent,  W.  T.  Dannat  and  Alexander  Harrison.  These  men  have 
received  recognition  at  the  hands  of  the  French  and  other  governments 
again  and  again  in  the  past,  and  really  have  been  better  known  in 
Europe  than  in  their  own  country,  Whistler  is  universally  conceded  to 
be  one  of  the  most  artistic  men  of  his  time,  and  yet  he  has  so  identified 
himself  with  Europe  that  a  majority  of  our  people  not  informed  in  art 
matters  suppose  him  to  be  an  Englishman.  Whistler  was  represented 
by  a  group  of  his  pictures  which  fairly  indicated  the  breadth  of  his  talent. 

John  H.  Sargent  had  a  group  of  portraits,  some  of  which  have  been 
seen  in  the  National  Academy  exhibitions  during  the  past  few  years  and 
which  invariably  have  been  among  the  star  features  of  these  exhibitions. 
Sargent  more  than  once  has  been  compared  with  Velasquez,  and  these 
portraits  seen  together  suggest  the  comparison. 

A  Prize  Picture. 

Alexander  Harrison  was  represented  by  his  important  canvas  "  Cre- 
puscule,"  which  was  awarded  a  $2500  prize  at  a  "  Prize  Fund  Exhibi- 
tion "  held  in  New  York  several  years  ago,  and  which  is  now  the  pro- 
perty of  the  Museum  of  Fine  Arts  at  St.  Louis ;  his  large  Salon  picture 


THE   ART   PALACE.  293 

"  En  Arcadie,"  his  "  Bathers,"  a  most  exquisite  study  of  the  sea  late  in 
the  afternoon  with  a  group  of  female  figures  in  the  water  near  the  shore  ; 
a  small  "  Marine  "  and  "  A  Misty  Morning."  Never  before  has  Harrison 
been  so  fully  represented  in  an  American  exhibition. 

A  Famous  Painting. 

Dannat  sent  an  "  impressionistic"  painting — "  Spanish  Dancers" — one 
of  the  works  which  attracted  most  attention.  The  average  visitor  to 
the  Exposition,  who  did  not  understand  the  picture,  would  condemn  it 
as  most  meretricious  and  sensational  in  technique.  Others  recognized 
its  truthfulness  as  a  representation  of  character.  It  was  shown  in  the 
Salon  in  1892,  and  was  one  of  the  pictures  which  evoked  the  most  com- 
ment in  Paris. 

In  this  exhibition  Dannat  stands  as  one  of  the  most  extreme  of  the 
impressionists  in  method.  Those  who  remember  his  "  Quartet "  in  the 
Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art  could  scarcely  realize  that  this  picture  was 
the  work  of  the  same  man,  yet  it  was  quite  as  strong  in  this  new  manner 
as  was  his  "  Quartet  "  in  the  style  in  which  it  is  painted. 

The  sensation  in  the  American  art  world  in  1892  was  the  superb  "  Vir- 
gin Enthroned  "  of  Abbott  H.  Thayer,  which  was  pronounced  by  many 
of  the  artists  who  saw  it  in  New  York,  the  best  work  yet  produced  by 
an  American  painter.  This  picture  occupied  a  conspicuous  place  in  the 
American  section.  Of  Thayer's  other  works  were  "  The  Brother  and 
Sister,"  "  Portrait  of  a  Lady,"  "  Morning  "  and  another  portrait.  There 
is  something  about  Mr.  Thayer's  method  that  is  different  from  that  of 
any  other  American  painter. 

The  picture  which,  perhaps,  was  most  talked  of,  though  it  was  only 
shown  in  a  semi-public  manner  in  the  Union  League  Club,  was  George 
de  Forest  Brush's  "  Mother  and  Child."  Brush  has  been  best  known  in 
the  past  for  his  pictures  of  Indian  life,  which  are  painted  with  a  degree 
of  knowledge  and  appreciation  that  is  remarkable,  and  that  demonstrates 
the  great  possibilities  to  be  found  by  the  artists  in  subjects  of  this  char- 
acter. Of  late,  however,  Mr.  Brush  has  devoted  himself  considerably  to 
portraiture,  and  this  "  Mother  and  Child"  is  one  of  the  best  examples  of 
artistic  portrait  painting  to  be  found  in  the  Exposition.  Several  of 
Brush's  Indian  pictures — the  "  Head  Dress,"  "The  Indian  and  the  Lily," 

and  others — show  a  talent  that  is  analogous  to  that  of  G6rome. 
> 

Thoroughly  Original. 

Two  men  who  are  also  essentially  American  are  Winslow  Homer  and 
F.  S.  Church.  Homer  paints  with  a  breadth  and  a  degree  of  robustness 


294  THE  ART  PALACE. 

peculiar  to  him.  His  views  on  the  Maine  coast — waves  breaking  on 
the  shore,  sailors  making  observations,  men  making  their  way  across  a 
pathless  waste  in  winter — are  exceptional.  Among  Mr.  Homer's  pic- 
tures may  be  mentioned  "  The  Maine  Coast  in  Winter,"  "  The  March 
Wind,"  "  Eight  Bells,"  "  Camp  Fire,"  "  Dressing  for  the  Carnival,"  "  The 
Two  Guides,"  "Coast  in  Winter,"  "Adirondack  Hunters  and  Dogs" 
and  "  Sunlight  on  the  Coast." 

While  Mr.  Homer  paints  in  an  extremely  broad  manner,  with  strong 
effects  in  coloring,  Mr.  Church's  works  are,  in  a  manner,  quite  as  orig- 
inal, but  almost  diametrically  opposite  in  character.  Church  revels  in 
delicate  tones — pinks,  greens,  pale  yellows — and  the  result  always  is  a 
color  harmony  of  the  most  exquisite  nature.  It  has  been  said  that 
among  all  the  American  painters  no  man  has  displayed  such  originality, 
both  in  the  choice  of  his  subjects  and  in  the  manner  of  painting  them, 
as  F.  S.  Church.  Church's  paintings  are  in  art  what  fairy  stories  are  in 
literature — not  necessarily  for  children,  however,  but  for  those  of  all 
ages  who  appreciate  poetry  and  sentiment.  Among  the  pictures  by 
Church  are: — "The  Sorceress,"  "The  Viking's  Daughter,''  "Know- 
ledge is  Power,"  "  The  Sybil "  and  "  Pandora." 

John  La  Farge  is  perhaps  the  strongest  colorist  in  America,  and  his 
work  probably  possesses  a  decorative  quality  beyond  that  of  almost  any 
other  painter  in  this  country.  In  this  Exposition  Mr.  La  Farge  was 
represented  by  his  "  Visit  of  Nicodemus  to  Christ,"  "  The  Halt  of  the 
Wise  Men  from  the  East,"  "  Fog  Blowing  in  at  Newport "  and  "  St. 
Paul  Preaching." 

Wyant  well  Represented. 

The  late  A.  H.  Wyant,  who  has  always  been  mentioned  with  Inness 
in  connection  with  American  landscape,  was  represented  by  an  imposing 
group  of  works.  Among  the  pictures  may  be  mentioned  "  A  Forenoon 
in  the  Adirondacks,"  "  An  October  Day,"  "  Evening,"  "  Clearing  Off," 
"  In  the  Woods,"  "  The  Storm  "  and  "  Sunshine  in  the  Woods." 

Then  there  was  D.  W.  Tryon,  whose  work  will  compare  with  that  of 
any  landscape  painter  represented  in  the  Exposition.  In  certain  respects 
Tryon  seems  to  combine  the  excellencies  of  many  schools ;  his  hand- 
ling is  broad,  yet  extremely  subtle,  and  his  pictures  are  full  of  feeling 
and  poetry.  By  Mr.  Tryon  there  were  "  A  Winter  Evening,"  "  Night," 
"  October,"  "  Springtime,"  "  Starlight,"  "  Sunset  at  Sea,"  "  Daybreak," 
"  New  Bedford  Harbor,"  "  Twilight"  and  "  A  Winter  Afternoon." 

Among  American  artists  there  is  no  man  of  stronger  personality,  no 
man  who  has  exerted  greater  influence  upon  the  art  of  to-day  than  Wil- 


THE  ART  PALACE.  295 

liam  M.  Chase.  Mr.  Chase  studied  in  Munich,  and  for  some  time  after 
his  return  from  Munich  his  paintings  retained  the  influence  of  Piloty  and 
the  sombre  hues  of  the  Bavarian  school.  Later,  however,  Mr.  Chase 
seemed  to  come  more  under  the  influence  of  the  Frenchmen,  and  his 
work  in  this  Exhibition  is  more  characteristic  of  his  later  method. 
Among  the  best  of  his  works  shown  here  were  his  "  Sunlight  and  Shad- 
ow in  Central  Park/  his  "  Lilliputian  Boats  in  the  Park"  and  his  portrait 
"Alice,"  the  latter  representing  a  young  girl  dancing. 

Gari  Melchers  is  a  man  who  has  won  honor  after  honor  in  the  Paris 
Salon,  and  who  has  been  distinguished  by  awards  also  in  Berlin  and 
Munich.  He  is  a  painter  of  the  greatest  sincerity,  honest  and  thorough 
in  his  methods,  simple  and  direct  in  his  technique.  There  is  feeling,  too, 
in' the  pictures  of  Melchers.  Among  the  various  works  by  Melchers, 
and  one  of  the  most  forcible  of  them,  is  "  The  Pilots,"  showing  a  group 
of  men  seated  around  a  table  before  a  window  which  overlooks  the  sea. 
The  faces  of  these  men — Dutchmen  such  as  one  sees  in  Vollendam — are 
full  of  character ;  one  may  read  the  history  of  their  lives  in  their  faces. 
Another  picture — "The  Sermon" — depicts  a  number  of  peasants  in  a 
Dutch  village  church.  The  strong  point  of  this  picture  is  the  remark- 
able manner  in  which  the  artist  has  realized  the  different  impressions  of 
so  many  personalities.  "  Nativity  "  is  a  picture  representing  an  interior 
in  the  early  morning,  with  the  early  light  touching  the  objects  upon 
which  it  falls  with  a  bluish  cast.  Another  picture — one  which  attracted 
attention  in  the  Loan  Exhibition  held  in  New  York — is  "  Marriage" 
representing  a  rustic  couple  standing  in  a  village  church. 

Jules  Stewart  had  here  his  "  Hunt  Ball,"  which  is  excellent  in  color 
and  subtle  in  its  representation  of  the  atmosphere  of  a  ball  room.  This 
picture  has  been  so  reproduced  that  it  is  familiar  to  almost  every  one. 
Mr.  Stewart  had  another  picture  entitled  "  Cruising,"  and  several  superb 
small  portraits. 

Triumphs  of  French  Art. 

It  is  enough  to  say  that  M.  Roger-Ballu,  headed  the  French  Com- 
missioners to  insure  a  grand  and  thoroughly  representative  display. 
France  not  only  outdid  all  other  nations  in  paintings  and  sculpture,  but 
she  filled  one  of  the  great  courts  with  architectural  and  sculptural  casts, 
including  the  most  important  works  in  the  Trocadero  Museum  of  Paris. 
The  beautiful  portals  of  St.  Giles,  Bordeaux  and  Toulon  and  the  reclin- 
ing figures  representing  the  rivers  of  France  were  among  the  outright 
gifts  which  have  been  made  by  the  great  Republic. 

Foremost  among  the  French  painters  represented  in  this  remarkable 


296  THE   ART   PALACE. 

company  is  James  Tissot,  whose  "  Prodigial  Son  "  was  put  forward  as  the 
leading  feature  of  the  exhibit.  This  picture  is  in  four  parts.  It  made  a 
great  sensation  in  Paris  and  also  in  London,  where  it  was  conceived,  Tis- 
sot having  spent  many  years  in  England.  Bonnat  furnished  portraits  of 
Cardinal  Lavigerie  and  of  Ernest  Renan.  They  were  both  fine  speci- 
mens of  the  powerful  talent  to  be  found  in  all  of  Bonnat's  works. 

Unfortunately,  Gerome  had  nothing  new  and  he  was  represented  by 
three  canvasses,  two  of  them  being  "  A  Street  in  Cairo  "  and  "The  Ser- 
pent Charmer."  These  pictures,  already  famous,  belong  to  American 
private  collections.  Of  Benjamin  Constant's  work  there  was  a  portrait 
of  Christopher  Columbus  and  "  The  Drought."  The  latter  shows  slaves 
greedily  drinking  from  a  spring  in  a  scorching  oasis.  It  is  remarkable 
for  the  contrast  between  the  scornful  stoicism  of  the  guard  and  the  suf- 
fering faces  of  the  bondsmen. 

Masterly  Works. 

Here  was  a  masterly  painting  by  Jules  Breton,  "  Une  Bretonne."  He 
also  exhibited  "The  Pardon,"  a  touching  scene  in  the  peasant  life  of 
Brittany.  Carolus  Duran  had  three  portraits  of  ladies,  all  of  them  in  his 
best  manner.  Bouguereau's  brush  contributed  "  The  Holy  Women  at 
the  Sepulchre  "  and  "  Our  Lady  of  the  Angels,"  both  characteristic. 

When  Jean  Beraud  turned  away  from  his  studies  of  Parisian  women 
and  painted  "  The  Descent  from  the  Cross  "  he  made  a  sensation,  and 
the  picture  attracted  great  attention  here.  He  has  boldly  abandoned 
the  conventionalities  of  the  mediaeval  painters  and  clad  the  personages 
of  the  passion  in  modern  clothes.  Beraud  aims  at  people  who  crucify 
Christ  to-day,  and  his  success  can  better  be  judged  by  individual  in- 
spection. 

From  the  studio  of  Duez  there  were  "  Jesus  Walking  Upon  the 
Water,"  "  A  Souvenir  of  the  Fete "  and  a  marine  view.  Delort  was 
represented  by  "  The  Recruiting  Sergeant."  Gervet  had  "  Mignon,"  a 
portrait  of  Dr.  Evans  and  a  fine  portrait  of  a  Parisian  lady.  By  Aime 
Corot  were  "  The  Prisoner  "  and  "  The  Brave  Bull." 

The  French  section  contained  about  five  hundred  oil  paintings,  two 
hundred  drawings,  a  hundred  and  fifty  pastels  and  water  colors  and 
many  etchings.  As  for  sculpture,  among  the  most  important  works  were 
"  Washington  and  Lafayette,"  by  Bartholdi,  and  "  Eagle  and  Vulture," 
by  Cain.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  severity  of  the  French  jury  there 
would  have  been  a  tremendous  overflow.  None  but  works  of  high 
merit  were  shown. 


THE   ART   PALACE. 


297 


Holland's  Magnificent  Display. 

Was  it  a  coincidence  or  an  intelligent  appreciation  of  the  situation 
that  Japan  and  Holland  were  neighbors  in  the  west  section  of  the  cen- 
tral pavilion  ?  No  other  country  can  claim  what  both  were  able  to  show 
— pure  schools  of  their  own.  Holland  may  be  called  the  Japan  of 
Europe.  The  works  of  giants  like  Rem- 
brandt, Van  der  Neer,  Ruysdael,  Holbein  and 
Franz  Hals  are  almost  equalled  now  by  mas- 
ters like  Israels,  Mesdag,  Bosboom,  Maris, 
Mauve  and  Artz.  This  presentation  of  Hol- 
land's contemporaneous  art  shows  that  the 
Dutch  painters  continue  to  tell  with  the  pas- 
sion they  have  for  every  inch  of  their  soil  the 
story  of  life  always  seen  with  an  enthusiastic 
eye  for  harmonious  color.  Their  fundamen- 
tal law  is  that  true  art  is  not  what  you  paint 
but  how  you  paint  it.  They  do  not  get  up 
stories  en  tableau  vivant  or  compete  with  the- 
atres in  dramatic  scenes.  Their  Bible  is  the 
human  heart.  The  human  soul  is  history. 

The  visitor  who  gazes  at  the  wonders  in 
the  Art  Palace  is  face  to  face  with  many  of 
the  greatest  paintings  in  the  world.  Some 
of  them  are  the  following :  Those  who  have 
not  seen  Joseph  Israels'  "Alone  in  the 
World"  can  hardly  appreciate  the  full  power 
and  marvelous  technique  of  the  leader  of  the 
Dutch  school.  Beside  this  great  work  the 
French  and  German  painters  seem  petty  and 
inadequate.  Israels  has  also  "Fisherwomen 
at  Zandvort,"  "Sweet  Home,"  "Summer  Day 
on  Shore/'  and  "  Type  of  a  Fisherman."  He  also  exhibits  a  fine  water 
color,  "  Motherly  Cares/'  All  these  are  triumphs  of  artistic  genius. 

Immortal  Works. 

Three  mighty  Dutch  painters  have  died  recently,  but  some  of  their 
work  will  be  seen,  thanks  to  Mr.  Mesdag,  who  generously  opened  his 
magnificent  private  gallery.  Artz,  who  died  in  1890,  is  represented 
by  "A  Girl  Knitting,"  "The  Pet  Lamb/'  "Idle  Hours  on  the  Dunes," 
"Girl  Sleeping  on  the  Dunes,"  and  "A  Fisherwoman's  Sorrow."  BOS- 


STATUE  OF  ART. 


298  THE  ART  PALACE. 

boom,  who  died  in  1891,  has  "Dutch  Reformed  Church  in  Harlem" 
and  "The  Synagogue,  Amsterdam."  From  the  brush  of  Mauve,  who 
died  in  1888,  there  are,  "Wood  Carts  on  the  Heath,"  "Cows  Going 
Home,"  "  Pastures  Near  the  Dunes,"  and  "  Ploughing  the  Fields." 

One  of  the  conspicuous  features  of  this  section  is  a  group  of  Mr. 
Mesdag's  powerful  sea  paintings.  There  are  a  dozen  of  these,  and 
it  is  said  that  several  of  them  will  remain  in  America.  His  wife  takes 
the  lead  among  the  still  life  painters.  She  is  fully  represented  and  leads 
a  list  of  fifteen  Dutch  women,  whose  work  challenges  that  of  the  women 
of  any  other  country. 

Klinkenberg  has  four  splendid  town  views  of  Holland,  filled  with  his 
well-known  effects  of  sunlight  playing  on  the  red  and  white  bricks  of 
quaint  old  Dutch  houses.  What  a  contrast  to  Chicago's  high  buildings, 
interminable  streets,  bustle  and  matter-of-factism,  are  these  glimpses  of 
dreamy  meadows,  windmills,  ponds,  cows  and  canals  ! 

Dutchmen  have  been  the  greatest  portrait  painters,  and  a  good  deal  of 
their  talent  seems  to  have  been  inherited  by  Hubert  Vos,  whose  picture 
of  Dutch  interiors  originally  drew  attention  to  him,  and  secured  medals 
throughout  Europe.  He  has  developed  into  a  portrait  painter  of  extra- 
ordinary ability.  His  portrait  of  Wilhelmina,  the  little  Queen  of  Hol- 
land, which  was  lent  by  Her  Majesty,  is  wonderful  in  its  simplicity  and 
coloring.  Although  the  child  is  in  a  black  mourning  dress,  Mr.  Vos 
has  so  handled  the  background,  the  face  and  the  trifling  auxiliaries  as 
to  actually  bring  about  an  effect  of  color  and  warmth.  Mr.  Vos  also 
displays  "The  Old  Women's  Almhouse,"  "Poor  People,"  and  "The 
Anglers  on  the  Zuyder  Zee."  In  the  latter  picture  he  has  portrayed  the 
different  moods  of  mother,  son  and  daughter  as  the  summons  to  prayer 
is  sounded — fanaticism,  reverent  devotion  and  flippant  indifference. 

Queen  Victoria  Sends  her  Choicest  Paintings. 

The  collection  of  exhibits  in  the  British  section  is  the  largest  and 
most  important  that  has  ever  been  brought  together  in  any  international 
exhibition  outside  of  the  United  Kingdom.  It  was  not  possible  to  ob- 
tain good  representative  examples  of  the  deceased  painters  of  the  Eng- 
lish school,  and  the  collection  is,  therefore,  almost  entirely  confined  to 
works  by  living  artists,  the  only  exceptions  being  a  few  pictures  executed 
by  painters  who  have  died  within  the  last  few  years.  A  large  number 
of  the  works  have  been  lent  by  private  collectors. 

The  Queen,  the  Prince  of  Wales,  the  Duke  of  Edinburgh  and  the 
Duchess  of  Albany  at  once  gave  their  consent  to  send  those  works  for 
which  application  was  made.  Sir  Frederick  Leighton,  president  of  the 


THE  ART   PALACE. 


299 


Royal  Academy,  is  represented  by  a  portrait,  and  three  very  fine  subject 
pictures,  "  Hercules  Wrestling  With  Death,"  "  The  Garden  of  the  Hes- 
perides,"  and  "Perseus  and  Andromeda,"  the  two  last  being  in  the 
Academy  exhibition  in  1892.  He  also  sends  two  pieces  of  sculpture, 
"The  Sluggard"  and  "Needless  Alarm." 

Sir  John  E.  Millais  contributes  "  The  Ornithologist,"  the  well  known 
picture,  "  Bubbles,"  and  two  superb  landscapes,  with  several  other 
works.  It  would  have  been  interesting  if  some  of  Sir  John  E.  Millais' 


RECEPTION  IN  THE  ART  PALACE. 

early  work,  when  he  was  following  the  pre-Raphaelite  method,  could 
have  been  shown  and  brought  into  comparison  with  his  present  broad 
and  masterly  style,  but  the  limited  space  at  the  disposal  of  the  commit- 
tee would  not  permit  this.  The  object  was  to  preseut  only  the  charac- 
teristic work  of  artists  who  have  gained  a  well-merited  celebrity. 

Admired  in  America. 

Mr.  Watts,  whose  works  are  perhaps  better  known  in  this  country 
than  many  others,  from  a  small  exhibition  of  his  pictures  being  made 
on  one  or  two  occasions,  sends  six  very  strong  examples,  "  Love  and 


300  THE  ART   PALACE. 

Life,"  "Love  and  Death,"  "  Paola  and  Francesca,"  "The  Genius  of 
Greek  Poetry"  and  portraits  of  Robert  Browning  and  Walter  Crane. 

Mr.  Poynter  has  four  works  in  oil  and  one  in  water  color.  Two  of 
the  former  are  small  but  exquisite  passages  of  color,  finished  with  the 
learning  and  care  that  Mr.  Poynter  always  bestows  on  his  work,  and  a 
third  picture,  called  "  Diaduminic,"  is  a  full  length  partly  draped  figure 
of  a  Greek  lady  about  to  enter  her  bath,  and  the  architectural  details  of 
the  background  are  again  most  carefully  worked  out. 

Mr.  Alma-Tadema  contributes  three- oil  pictures  and  a  water  color 
drawing.  The  former  are  "An  Audience  at  Agripp.is,"  "  The  Sculpture 
Gallery,"  one  of  the  largest  and  finest  works  that  Mr.  Alma-Tadema 
ever  produced,  and  "A  Dedication  to  Bacchus."  a  recently  completed 
work  full  of  rich  and  glowing  color. 

One  of  Herkomer's   Best. 

Professor  Hubert  Herkomer  is  represented  by  three  works,  the  finest 
being  his  important  picture  called  "The  Last  Muster,"  which  represents 
a  number  of  pensioners  gathered  together  in  the  chapel  of  Chelsea 
Hospital.  Some  of  these  veterans  still  retain  a  vigorous  old  age,  while 
others  appear  so  painfully  feeble  as  to  plainly  indicate  it  will  indeed  be 
their  "  last  muster."  Every  face  depicted  is  full  of  individuality  and 
character,  while  each  detail  is  kept  so  subordinate  that  the  many  figures 
form  one  complete  composition. 

The  late  George  Mason  is  represented  by  four  very  fine  pictures— 
"  The  Return  from  Ploughing,"  lent  by  the  Queen  from  her  private  col- 
lection at  Osborne,  and  "Girls  Dancing  by  the  Sea,"  "The  Harvest 
Moon  "  and  "  Only  a  Shower." 

Mr.  Frederick  Goodall  sends  two  canvasses  on  a  large  picture,  "  By 
the  Sea  of  Galilee,"  and  a  smaller  but  highly  finished  work,  "  The 
Palm  Offerings."  Mr.  M.  Frith  is  represented  by  a  set  of  five  pictures  de- 
picting "  The  Race  for  Wealth,"  representing  the  scheming  and  un- 
scrupulous company  promoter  or  financier  in  the  various  phases  of  his 
career  as  "The  Spider  and  the  Flies,"  "The  Spider  at  Home,"  'The 
Victim,"  "  Judgment "  and  "  Retribution,"  and  each  tells  its  own  tale. 

There  is  a  large  number  of  other  important  figure  pictures,  besides 
the  landscapes  and  sea  pieces. 

Germany's  Superb  Exhibit. 

Germany  stands  alone.  The  Austrians  have  taken  a  section  for 
themselves.  And  the  scope  of  the-  German  collection  has  been  enlarged 
by  a  personal  order  of  the  German  Emperor,  who,  for  the  first  time,  has 


THE   ART   PALACE. 


301 


permitted  pictures  to  be  taken  from  the  walls  of  the  royal  art  museums 
throughout  the  Empire. 

First  among  the  contemporaneous  painters  of  the  Fatherland  is  Pro- 
fessor Adolf  Menzel,  a  Senator  of  the  Royal  Academy.  He  is  by  com- 
mon consent  the  leader  of  German  art.  Menzel's  "  Rolling  Mill,"  a 
grand  and  masterly  picture,  was  brought  from  the  National  Gallery.  It 
is  one  of  his  best  known  works.  Beside 
this  Menzel  exhibits  five  water  colors. 
"  The  Squirrel,"  "  Bird  and  Tree  Trunk," 
"  The  Cockatoo,"  "  The  Blue  Arras,"  "  Chi- 
nese Woman  with  Pheasants  "  and  designs 
for  a  dinner  set  for  the  Crown  Prince  Fred- 
erick. These  water  colors  are  unrivalled. 

Next  to  Menzel  comes  Professor  Knaus. 
There  are  four  works  from  his  easel  in  the 
Vanderbilt  collection  here.  His  portraits 
of  Mommsen  and  Helmholtz  from  the 
National  Gallery  are  both  on  view.  "  The 
Fight  Behind  the  Fence  "  is  a  strongly 
marked  study  of  a  boyish  quarrel. 

Religious  Pictures. 

Those  who  have  visited  the  National 
Galleries  of  Germany  will  remember  the 
Scriptural  pictures  by  the  famous  Fritz  von 
Uhde.  He  is  one  of  those  who  began  the 
so-called  modern  art  movement.  Von 
Uhde  is  represented  by  "  Christmas  Eve  " 
and  "The  Announcement  to  the  Shep- 
herds." 

Professor  Gotthold  Kuehl  sent  a  small 
picture,  "  Eins  Feste  Berg  ist  Unser  Gott." 
From  the  studio  of  Gruntzner,  the  cloister 

cellar  painter,  there  is  "After  Dinner"  and  Mr.  Schiff,  of  New  York, 
has  loaned  another  picture  by  the  same  artist.  Professor  Herm.  Kaul- 
bach  is  represented  by  "  The  Story  Teller.  Professor  von  Lenbach's  two 
great  portraits  of  Prince  Bismark  and  Pope  Leo  were  loaned  by  the 
Bavarian  government.  By  Max  Lieberman  are "  A  Dutch  Village 
Highway"  and  "The  Flax  Barn." 

For  all  this  the  thanks  of  the  American  public  are  due  to  Commis- 
sioner Wermuth  and  his  assistant,  Mr.  Alquist,  the  well  known  artist. 


STATUE    OF   MUSIC. 


302  THE   ART   PALACE. 

Austria's  most  Famous  Works. 

Austria  furnishes  two  hundred  works  of  art,  and  the  chief  attractions 
are  Hans  Makart's  splendid  allegories  of  the  five  senses,  represented 
in  each  by  the  figure  of  a  woman.  They  are  from  the  Emperor's  pri- 
vate collection.  Munkaczy's  "Christ  Before  Pilate"  is  also  here. 
Schindler  exhibits  his  "  Cemetery  in  Dalmatia"  and  Count  Hans  Wilczek 
has  loaned  Canon's  "  The  Hunting  Master,"  a  notable  work.  Leopold 
C.  Muller,  one  of  the  strongest  figure  painters  in  Europe,  has  his 
"  Market  Scene  in  Cairo."  Austria's  distinguished  woman  painter, 
Mme.  Weisingn,  has  "  Morning  at  the  Seashore,"  "  Breakfast  in  the 
Country  "  and  "  The  Laundress  of  the  Mountains." 

An  immense  historical  painting  by  Borzik, "  The  First  Court  of  the 
Hussites,"  is  placed  beside  a  historic  statue  of  the  Emperor  Joseph. 
Then  there  -is  a  portrait  of  the  Emperor  Joseph  by  Victor  Tilgner. 
Franz  Schanger,  of  Prague,  is  represented  by  "  The  Bohemian,"  a  quaint 
mountain  study.  There  is  a  hunting  scene, "  Near  to  the  Wolf,"  by  Otto 
Thoren,  and  "  Christ  and  the  Children,"  by  Julius  Schmid.  By  Mathias 
Schmid  there  is  "The  Image  Merchant,"  by  August  Pettenkofer,  a 
hunting  view ;  by  Edward  Lichtenfels,  a  marine  picture,  and  by  Franz 
Pausenger,  "  The  Birth  of  Autumn"  and  "  The  Death  of  Autumn." 

Those  who  expect  to  find  Russia  lagging  in  the  rear  are  surprised  to 
find  works  of  the  highest  order  in  the  Russian  section.  The  paintings 
of  Constantin  Makoffsky  alone  would  stamp  it  with  the  true  seal. 

Six  Hundred  Masterpieces  from  Italy, 

Italy  presents  over  six  hundred  pictures.  Of  these  Francesco  Paolo 
Michetti,  the  foremost  modern  Italian  painter,  sent  several  of  his  best 
works.  Boldini,  whose  work  is  so  well  known  in  Paris,  contributes  four 
of  his  dashing  portraits.  Morelli,  of  Naples,  who  paints  misty  scenes,  is 
represented  by  "  Mahomet's  Followers."  Angelo  del  Oca  Bianca  fur- 
nishes a  large  canvass,  "  Quadriglia."  There  are  canvasses  by  Palizzi, 
the  Neapolitan  animal  painter,  and  Lojacono,  the  Sicilian  landscape 
painter. 

One  of  the  best  pictures  in  this  collection  is  Corelli's  big  canvas  "  Ave 
Maria,"  which  won  for  him  the  gold  medal  in  Paris.  It  is  a  powerful 
study  of  peasant  life  in  the  Roman  Campagna.  Pietro  Gambrini's 
"  Landing  of  Columbus,"  a  work  that  took  him  four  years  to  accomplish, 
is  to  be  seen  in  the  Convent  of  La  Rabida. 

There  is  a  good  representation  of  the  Roman  water  color  school,  so 
dear  to  the  hearts  of  tourists.  The  most  important  picture  in  this 


THE  ART  PALACE.  303 

group  is  by  Giuseppe  Aureliu,  "  Presentation  of  Monsignor  Richelieu  to 
Henry  IV."  Pennachini's  dramatic  work  "  Crazy,"  representing  a  young 
mother  beside  an  empty  cradle,  which  won  high  honors  in  Paris,  is  also 
to  be  seen. 

Of  the  Italian  sculptors  the  strongest  representative  is  Ettore  Ferrori, 
who  made  the  renowned  statute  of  Giordano  Bruno,  which  was  unveiled 
in  Rome  in  spite  of  the  Pope's  protest.  The  two  works  by  which  he  is 
represented  in  Chicago  are  a  life-size  statute  of  Lincoln  dying  and  a 
bust  of  "  Lesbia."  Appoloni  exhibits  a  figure  representing  "  American 
Mythology." 

There  are  several  exceptions  to  the  rule  about  old  masters,  and  the 
Spanish  section  contains  many  fine  examples  of  her  artistic  past,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  works  of  her  modern  painters.  Spain  exhibits  a  Murillo  that 
is  valued  at  $50,000. 

Unique  Collection  From  Japan. 

Japan,  the  home  and  citadel  of  color  painting,  filled  her  section 
largely  with  objects  that  properly  come  under  the  classification  of  bric- 
a-brac,  but  as  this  is  the  first  time  that  the  Japanese  have  seriously  en- 
tered into  competition  with  the  art  of  other  nations  they  were  privileged 
to  ignore  the  rules  applying  to  the  exhibits  of  European  nations. 
Lacquer  work,  embroidery,  wood  carving,  dyed  decorations,  kutani  ware 
and  cloissone  abound  in  the  Japanese  collection. 

As  the  Japanese  did  not  attempt  to  paint  in  oils  until  1870,  their  best 
artists  still  work  in  water  colors,  using  silk  instead  of  canvas. 

Dore's  World-Renowned  Paintings. 

The  collection  of  the  works  of  Gustave  Dore,  which  is  the  finest  col- 
lection of  religious  pictures  in  the  world,  is  exhibited  at  the  World's 
Fair.  This  collection  is  valued  at  half  a  milFion  dollars. 

The  Dore  collection  comprises  thirty-two  large  oil  paintings  and  many 
of  the  original  sketches  in  black  and  white  from  which  these  were 
painted.  With  the  collection  are  many  landscapes,  showing  the  versa- 
tility of  the  great  artist,  and  also  many  proofs  of  engravings  signed  by 
the  artist.  No  artist  of  modern  times  has  appealed  so  strongly  to  the 
religious  sentiment  of  Christians  as  this  renowned  Alsatian,  whose  pow- 
erful conceptions,  both  as  an  illustrator  and  painter,  have  placed  him  in 
the  front  ranks  among  the  remarkable  men  of  this  or  any  other  time. 

To  Dore  belongs  the  distinction  of  having  introduced  a  new  style  in 
art,  developed  a  new  taste  in  the  public.  The  poetic  beauty  of  his 
genius  reached  its  climax  in  his  masterpieces  which  illustrate  the  passion 


304  THE  ART   PALACE. 

and  triumph  of  the  Saviour  and  the  progress  of  Christianity,  which  have 
made  the  name  of  Dore  a  household  word  in  connection  with  sacred  art 
in  every  quarter  of  the  globe.  The  Dore  gallery  has  existed  in  London 
for  twenty-one  years.  Dore  died  in  1883  at  the  age  of  fifty-one  years. 

Some  Famous  Pictures. 

Among  the  masterpieces  of  this  collection  are  the  following : 

"  Christ  leaving  the  Praetorium,' '  oil  painting  20  by  30  feet,  signed  in 
black  and  painted  from  1867  to  1872. 

"  Christ's  entry  into  Jerusalem,"  oil  painting  20  by  30  feet,  signed  in 
black  and  finished  in  1877.  This  created  considerable  interest  in  the 
Paris  Salon  of  1878. 

"  Moses  Before  Pharaoh,"  oil  painting  17^  by  26^  feet,  signed  in 
black  and  painted  from  1878  to  1880. 

"The  Dream  of  Pilate's  Wife,"  oil  painting  10  by  13  feet,  signed  in 
red,  painted  in  1873  and  1874.  This  is  of  more  than  ordinary  interest. 
Pilate's  wife,  deeply  wrapped  in  slumber,  is  shown  pacing  slowly  down 
the  palace  steps  from  her  chamber  at  the  extreme  left  of  the  picture, 
while  an  angel,  with  outstretched  wings  whispers  in  her  ear.  The  flood 
of  light  pouring  from  the  room  tips  the  angel's  wings  with  gold  and  falls 
full  on  the  figure  of  the  Saviour  in  the  center  of  the  picture  Around  him 
are  grouped  many  of  the  figures  associated  with  his  last  agonies  on  the 
cross.  Stretching  into  an  apparently  almost  endless  vista  are  hundreds 
of  other  groups  depicting  the  various  stages  and  incidents  in  the  devel- 
opment of  Christianity,  and  terminating  in  the  far-off  distance  with  the 
cross,  from  which  a  radiant  light  is  shining. 

Martyrs  and  Wild  Beasts. 

"  Christian  Martyrs."  One  of  Dore's  most  noted  subjects.  The  picture 
represents  the  interior  of  a  Roman  amphitheater  on  the  night  succeeding 
a  great  festival  when  a  number  of  Christians  had  been  exposed  to  wild 
beasts  in  the  arena.  The  bodies  of  the  martyrs  lie  on  the  sand,  and  the 
savage  animals  are  prowling  over  the  ground  or  mangling  the  remains. 
Above,  from  a  starlit  sky,  a  troop  of  angels  is  seen  descending  to  wel- 
come the  departing  spirits  of  those  whose  life  is  not  yet  extinct. 

"  Day  Dream,"  oil  painting  1 1  by  5^  feet,  signed  in  black  and  painted 
in  1879.  "  The  Vale  of  Tears,"  one  of  Dore's  masterpieces,  which  has 
created  a  deep  interest  in  the  religious  world.  The  subject  is  a  render- 
ing in  color  of  the  verse,  "  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy 
laden  and  I  will  give  you  rest." 

The  background  of  the  picture,  which  is  of  enormous  size,  represents 


THE  ART    PALACE.  305 

"  The  Vale  of  Tears,"  a  shadowy  valley  full  of  dimly  defined  foliage, 
and  flanked  by  an  enormous  crag.  At  the  entrance  to  the  valley  stands 
the  Saviour,  clothed  in  white,  bearing  a  cross,  and  with  a  hand  upraised 
as  if  in  appeal  or  invitation.  His  figure  is  surrounded  by  an  arch  of 
light,  symbolizing  the  presence  of  Hope,  even  in  the  "  Vale  of  Tears." 
The  middle  and  fore  ground  are  filled  with  a  great  number  of  typical 
figures,  representing  the  "  weary"  and  "  heavy  laden"  ones  of  the  earth, 
from  king  to  beggar.  This  was  the  last  work  of  Dore,  in  fact  the  pic- 
ture was  not  absolutely  finished  when  the  artist  died. 

Belgium's  Fine  Art  Exhibit. 

Belgium's  fine  art  exhibit  is  excellent.  About  three  hundred  pictures 
and  sculptures  will  form  the  display.  They  are  representative  works  of 
the  leading  artists.  Among  the  most  famous  canvases  are  "  The  Ave- 
nue of  Oaks/'  and  "  Winter,"  works  of  the  great  landscape  painter, 
Franz  Lamoriniere.  These  were  exhibited  at  the  international  exhibition 
in  Berlin,  where  "  The  Avenue  of  Oaks  "  received  the  great  diploma  of 
honor.  In  Paris  the  same  picture  and  "  Winter "  brought  about  his 
promotion  to  officer  of  legion  of  honor,  and  obtained  besides  a 
gold  medal. 

The  Swedish  Exhibit. 

The  Swedish  exhibit  in  the  Palace  of  Fine  Arts  consists  of  140  works 
of  art.  Prince  Eugene,  third  son  of  the  king,  contributes  four  subjects, 
the  commissioner  seven  pictures  and  thirteen  etchings.  Nordstrom,  the 
landscape  painter,  and  Lingefors,  the  famous  painter  of  animals,  also 
contribute  to  the  showing.  The  King  shows  his  interest  in  the  Expo- 
sition by  sending  to  the  art  section  a  fine  landscape  painted  by  the 
Prince. 

Rich  Display  of  Delft  Art  Ware. 

The  display  of  Delft  art  ware  in  the  south  end  of  the  Liberal  Arts 
Building  cannot  fail  to  delight  all  lovers  of  blue  and  white.  Every  ex- 
ample is  a  modern  piece,  which  may  not  please  collectors  of  the  antique, 
but  in  points  of  color  and  glaze  it  would  indeed  be  difficult  to  find  any- 
thing more  satisfactory  than  this  collection  from  the  Netherlands.  Delft 
ware  has  always  been  very  popular  in  America,  and  was  imported  to 
this  country  as  early  as  1700.  The  blue  and  white  chimney  tile  was 
also  in  use  for  decorating  the  Yankee  fireplaces  a  hundred  years  ago. 
All  nations  owe  much  to  Holland  for  its  early  industrial  arts.  It  was 
by  means  of  the  Dutch  that  England  was  principally  supplied  with  the 
porcelain  of  China  and  Japan ;  and  as  the  supply  was  long  unequal  to 
2O 


306  THE   ART   PALACE. 

the  demand,  they  were  led  to  imitation,  in  which  they  became  very 
expert. 

Counterfeiting  was  Common. 

The  early  Delft  manufacturers  were  in  the  habit  of  painting  the 
common  white  ware  with  brilliant  colors  and  passing  it  off  as  Chinese, 
but  these  spurious  specimens  are  now  easily  detected.  The  finer  classes 
of  old  Delft  might  be  truthfully  named  composite,  for  the  beautiful 
Chinese  porcelain  was  imported  to  Holland,  and  painted  in  Delft.  The 
leading  motive  of  its  decoration  and  form  to-day  is  essentially  oriental. 
The  exquisite  cobalt  blue  has  attained  perfection.  The  milky  white  of 
the  ware  is  luminous,  and  the  designs  in  blue  are  painted  under  the 
glaze.  All  the  decorations  are  by  hand,  not  printed. 

The  setting  of  this  booth,  which  contains  the  excellent  work  of  these 
Dutch  ceramic  artizans,  is  felicitious.  It  is  that  of  a  well-equipped 
room.  The  tone  of  its  furnishings  is  mulberry  red,  which  serves  har- 
moniously as  a  background  for  the  blue  and  white.  Three  old  cabinets 
of  exquisite  workmanship  contain  many  specimens  of  the  ware.  Spindle- 
leg  tables  display  small  trumpet-shaped  bottles,  quadrangular  vases, 
oriform  jars,  snuff  bottles  and  beer  jugs  with  silver  and  pewter  lids. 

Jardinieres,  both  large  and  small,  are  distributed  about  the  room 
filled  with  tropical  plants.  They  compose  a  pretty  picture.  There  are 
also  shelves  which  hold  their  fragile  burdens  of  melon-shaped  vases 
decorated  with  grotesque  birds,  ewers  and  bottle-shaped  vases,  round 
and  protuberant,  narrowing  to  a  small  neck  and  base,  hawthorn  jars  and 
gallipots  copied  servilely  after  the  Japanese  scheme  of  decoration.  Hung 
on  the  wall  and  resting  on  easels  are  examples  of  tile  pictures,  beautiful 
in  their  enameling  and  color. 

Of  Great  Excellence. 

The  material  of  which  Dutch  and  English  tiles  are  made  is  undoubt- 
edly more  desirable  than  that  used  by  American  tile  manufacturers 
The  same  difficulty  is,  however,  met  with  in  the  enamel  placed  on  all 
tiles.  It  is  impossible  to  prevent  it  cracking  or  crazing.  The  joining  of 
the  Dutch  tiles  as  they  are  arranged  to  simulate  the  picture  is  excel- 
lently done.  In  one  picture,  which  is  a  reproduction  of  Rembrandt's 
famous  canvas,  "  The  Burgomasters,"  which  consists  of  seventy  distinct 
tiles,  can  be  seen  the  accuracy  of  their  workmanship. 

The  Delft  art  manufacturers  wisely  go  to  the  works  of  their  own 
famous  artists  for  their  subjects.  The  transcriptions  in  every  instance 
are  satisfactory.  There  are  in  the  collection  lovely  examples  after 


THE   ART    PALACE.  307 

Hendrik  William  Mesdag.  One  shows  two  ships  making  ready  for  the 
day's  fishing.  The  sea  presents  a  calm  surface.  The  reflection  from 
the  rising  sun  is  on  the  horizon,  and  the  sky  is  luminous.  The  spirit  of 
the  picture  has  been  faithfully  carried  out.  There  is  a  characteristically 
Dutch  market  scene  by  Tony  Offermanns ;  a  cavalier  and  a  merry 
drinking  party  after  Frans  Hals.  Louis  Apol's  land  and  water  scapes 
make  the  most  charming  blue  and  white  effects.  A  brawny  fisherman 
with  a  little  child  in  his  arms  is  a  striking  and  typical  example  of 
Israels,  the  famous  painter. 

Interesting   Potteries. 

The  Doulton  potteries,  of  Lambeth,  England,  occupy  a  central 
position  in  the  manufactures  building.  Their  display  is  large  and  very 
beautiful.  It  is  composed  of  many  different  specimens  of  their  excellent 
workmanship,  both  in  modeling  and  decoration ;  but  there  is  little,  if 
anything,  that  has  not  been  previously  displayed  in  the  American 
market.  The  massing  of  so  large  a  variety  is,  however,  most  pleasing. 
What  is  known  as  the  Lambeth  ware  is  always  effective.  The  fine 
clays  used  in  making  it  accept  the  enamel  so  perfectly  that  a  glaze  of 
great  brilliancy  is  attained. 

The  coloring  of  the  darker  pieces,  where  powder-blue,  dark  greens 
and  soft  reds  have  been  used,  is  exquisite.  There  are  some  large 
faience  vases,  decorated  by  artists  famous  for  their  work  on  porcelain. 
Tall  ewers,  with  graceful  and  slender  necks,  are  to  be  found  in  faience. 
A  vase  upon  which  has  been  painted  the  story  of  Columbus  attracts 
much  attention.  The  Misses  Barlow  have  again  shown  their  skill  as 
decorators,  using  as  subjects  birds  and  cattle.  The  newest  examples 
are  called  mosaic  and  marquetry.  The  tesselated  work,  the  designs  of 
which  are  outlined  by  a  gold  thread,  is  very  pretty.  The  clouded  colors 
applied  to  the  marquetry  harmonize  with  the  party  color,  which  is 
usually  a  soft  gray.  The  table  services  are  exquisite  in  decoration  and 
design  and  endless  in- variety.  One  art  room  is  devoted  to  the  showing 
of  Lambeth  tiles.  They  are  daringly  colored,  and  the  figures  which 
compose  the  subject  matter  of  the  pictures  are  skillfully  modeled.  Mr. 
Timworth's  historical  and  allegorical  bas-reliefs  are  an  additional 
attraction  to  the  tile  art  room. 


CHAPTER  XV. 
Woman's    Building. 

PERHAPS  no  building  among  the  scores  at  Jackson  Park  was 
more  eagerly  sought  or  studied  with  more  interest  than  the 
Woman's    Building.     The   place  occupied   by  woman  in  the 
serious  work  of  the  world  and  her  accomplishments  in  addi- 
tion to  being  graceful   and  beautiful  were  shown  at  the  World's  Fair. 
There  were  collected  and  placed  in  attractive  form  object  lessons  dis- 
playing to  the  best  advantage  her  progress  and  enlarged  sphere  of  use- 
fulness that  startled  those  people  who  have  regarded  women  as  merely 
pedestals  for  bonnets  and  as  types  for  frivolity. 

Without  any  doubt  one  of  the  exhibits  at  the  Exposition  that  at- 
tracted greatest  interest  was  this  Woman's  Building.  Irrespective  of  its 
dimensions,  which  Chicago  people  repeated  with  a  sort  of  relish,  there 
was  something  about  this  exhibit  of  very  great  moment.  Dwellers  on 
the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan  insisted  that  the  Woman's  Building  was 
388  feet  long  by  199  feet  wide,  which,  as  every  one  with  a  mathematical 
education  knows,  is  equivalent  to  one  acre  and  eight- tenths, -and  that  it 
cost  $138,000.  These  facts  are  really  the  least  important.  Its  chief 
value  consisted  in  the  demonstration  it  afforded  of  the  wonderful  pro- 
gress made  by  women  in  the  last  few  years.  And  not  only  this,  but  the 
great  measure  of  recognition  that  they  have  obtained  for  their  work.  If 
the  exhibit  were  ten  miles  long  and  two  miles  broad  this  could  not  be 
more  emphasized  than  it  has  been  by  the  efforts  of  the  Lady  Board  of 
Managers  to  whom  the  country  is  indebted  for  this  display. 

Their  Wonderful  Energy: 

Under  the  leadership  of  Mrs.  Potter  Palmer  the  "  Lady  Managers" — 
they  didn't  relish  the  title,  believing  that  there  was  about  it  a  little  sug- 
gestion of  the  "saleslady"  and  "forelady"  style  of  diction — did  wonders. 
More  of  the  real  results  of  the  Exposition  than  they  will  ever  get  credit 
for  can  be  traced  to  their  endeavors.  Co-operating  with  the  central 
body  were  women  of  push  and  energy  all  over  the  country,  and  in  many 
states  the  news  that  a  great  Exposition  was  to  be  held  was  first  carried 
to  the  citizens  by  the  gentler  sex.  In  Texas,  for  instance,  they  did  the 
pioneer  work  that  resulted  in  a  display  being  sent  by  voluntary  contri- 
308 


WOMAN'S  BUILDING.  309 

butions,  the  constitution   of  that  state  preventing  the  Legislature  from 
making  appropriations  such  as  were  set  aside  by  other  commonwealths. 

Those  who  participated  in  the  hewing  of  wood  and  the  drawing  of 
water  that  preceded  the  adoption  of  the  broad  scope  of  the  Fair  have  some 
idea  of  the  wonderful  energy  displayed  throughout  by  the  women. 
There  was  no  record  of  it  on  the  walls  of  the  Woman's  Building,  but  it 
is  a  fact  that  a  very  large  share  of  the  drudgery  and  yeoman's  work  fell 
upon  Mrs.  Palmer  and  her  associates.  Everywhere  they  were  found 
fighting,  arguing  and  working,  often  against  strong  odds,  but,  as  it 
turned  out  almost  invariably,  with  success.  There  were  sections  of  the 
Fair  besides  the  Woman's  Building  that  formed  a  monument  to  the  sex. 

The  first  labors  of  the  women  managers  before  they  decided  on  the 
sort  of  exhibits  that  should  be  made  were  to  enlist  the  co-operation  of 
foreign  countries.  In  England  Queen  Victoria  and  Princess  Christian 
were  induced  by  Mrs.  Palmer  to  join  the  movement.  Then  there  came 
in  the  Duchess  of  Abercorn,  Lady  Salisbury,  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick, 
Lady  Henry  Somerset,  Baroness  Burdett-Coutts  and  a  number  of  others 
equally  public-spirited.  In  France,  Mme.  Carnot  was  president  of  a 
committee:  in  Germany,  Princess  Frederick  Carl  ;  in  Italy,  Queen  Marg- 
herita;  in  Belgium,  the  Queen  of  the  Belgians,  and  in  Russia  the  Em- 
press enthusiastically  indorsed  the  idea  of  a  woman's  exhibit. 

The  responses  to  the  calls  from  the  central  body  showed  the  strides 
that  have  been  made  by  women  in  what  has  been  termed  their  "  eman- 
cipation."  No  previous  Exposition  has  ever  had  a  display  of  women's 
work  like  this,  and,  what  is  of  more  importance,  in  no  Exposition  did 
woman  ever  have  the  voice  that  she  had  in  this. 

Architects  Among  Women. 

The  Woman's  Building,  which  was  of  the  Italian  Renaissance  style, 
was  designed  by  Miss  Sophia  G.  Hayden,  a  Boston  architect,  only 
twenty-two  years  old,  and  a  modest  girl  of  such  a  retiring  appearance 
that  architecture  is  the  last  thing  one  would  think  her  guilty  of.  She 
is  a  graduate  of  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology.  The  ac- 
ceptance of  her  plans  earned  her  a  prize  of  $  1,000.  Miss  Lois  L. 
Howe,  also  of  Boston,  won  the  second  prize,  and  Miss  Laura  Hayes,  of 
Chicago,  the  third.  It  was  not  generally  known  in  this  country  that 
there  were  many  women  architects  until  the  designs  for  the  building 
were  called  for.  A  large  number  of  them  came  to  the  front.  They 
were  all  young,  most  of  them  being  under  twenty-five. 

The  interior  decoration  of  the  building  was  done,  of  course,  by 
women.  The  brick  work,  mason  work,  plastering  and  carpentry  natu- 


GROUP  OF   DECORATION   ON   WOMAN  S   BUILDING. 


WOMAN'S  BUILDING.  311 

rally  was  attended  to  by  men.  It  was  not  at  any  time  considered 
proper  to  give  the  affair  a  dime  museum  aspect  by  engaging  women  in 
any  branch  of  work  in  which  they  are  actually  employed  in  the  outside 
world.  But  in  painting,  of  course,  they  are  well  represented  in  most 
cities  and  countries. 

The  decorated  panels  were  very  large,  fourteen  feet  high  and  fifty- 
eight  feet  long.  Mrs.  MacMonnies  and  Miss  Cassatt,  who  live  in  Paris  did 
the  work.  The  former  is  the  wife  of  a  distinguished  sculptor,  the  man 
who  made  the  fountains  in  front  of  the  Administration  Building.  To 
paint  the  panels  she  constructed  a  big  glass  roofed  building  and  ar- 
ranged to  have  the  canvas  lowered  into  an  excavation  in  the  ground,  so 
as  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  climbing  ladders.  Four  side  panels  were 
painted  by  Mrs.  Rosina  Sherwood,  Miss  Lydia  Emmett  and  Mrs. 
Amanda  Brewster  Sewell,  all  of  New  York,  and  by  Miss  Fairchild,  of 
Boston.  Mrs.  Candace  Wheeler  was  the  color  director  of  the  woman's 
department.  Miss  Yandell  made  the  caryatides. 

Artistic  Decorations. 

The  Woman's  Building  was  located  near  one  of  the  principal  en- 
trances to  the  grounds  and  on  one  side  of  the  grand  quadrangle,  around 
which  the  main  buildings  were  placed.  There  was  a  main  rectangular 
hall,  over  which  was  an  immense  skylight.  Off  a  large  gallery  on,  the 
first  floor  above  the  ground  were  spacious  assembly  rooms  and  halls 
entirely  separated  one  from  the  other.  The  decoration  of  this  main  gal- 
lery was  in  ivory  and  gold.  Panels  below  the  high  decorations  con- 
tain the  names  of  distinguished  queens  and  women  both  of  Biblical  and 
later  history.  There  was  a  very  large  room,  for  instance,  in  which  were 
placed  the  exhibits  of  benevolent  and  reform  organizations. 

Among  these  were  found  the  booths  of  the  Woman's  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union,  the  Red  Cross  Society,  the  Salvation  Army,  the  Colum- 
bian Association  of  Housekeepers,  the  Home  for  Incurables  and  the 
Shut-In  Society.  The  latter  is  an  association  of  invalids  "  shut  in  " 
from  the  outside  world,  who  communicate  with  each  other  and  manage 
to  do  a  great  deal  of  helpful  work. 

In  their  booths  was  everything  appertaining  to  the  work  of  the 
societies,  ranging  from  statistics  to  banners.  Information,  verbal  and 
documentary,  was  given  to  applicants,  and  during  the  Fair  there  were 
reunions  and  conventions  of  the  different  bodies.  An  important  repre- 
sentation was  that  of  the  Woman's  Press  Clubs,  and  it  developed  that 
women  are  making  enormous  strides  in  the  writing  and  selling  of  news- 
paper articles.  The  tendency  of  women  is  toward  co-operation. 


312 


WOMAN'S   BUILDING. 


The  capacity  of  woman  for  literary  work  is  now  acknowledged  by 
the  great  journals  and  magazines,  and  every  woman  who  shows  herself 


GROUP   OF   DECORATION   ON   WOMAN  S    BUILDING. 

to  be  a  bright  writer  can  find  ready  employment.  In  some  departments 
of  journalism  she  holds  a  place  of  her  own,  and  one  that  cannot  be  filled 
by  any  member  of  the  opposite  sex  Especially  in  all  matters  pertain- 
ing to  the  household  she  has  the  field  to  herself.  A  man  is  not  expected 


WOMAN'S  BUILDING.  313 

to  write  on   making  cookies  and   babies'  dresses.     Most  men  would 
show  a  marvellous  incapacity  if  they  were  to  attempt  it. 

The  first  exhibit  made  by  the  women  was  in  1891,  when  they  began 
to  demonstrate  their  marvellous  capacity  for  organization.  When  a 
woman  wants  a  thing  she  usually  gets  it,  and  the  Chicago  women  and 
those  from  everywhere  else  wanted  the  Fair.  Such  a  spirit  of  energy 
was  developed  that  it  can  be  safely  said  that  if  the  project  had  been 
abandoned  by  the  men  they  would  have  flocked  apart  and  held  a  Fair 
of  their  own. 

Noble  Works  of  Charity. 

There  was  nothing  of  an  alarming  or  dramatic  nature  about  the  con- 
tents of  the  Woman's  Building.  There  were  not  any  statues  of  silver 
or  gold  nor  purple  dragons.  It  was  a  dignified  display  of  women's 
work.  As  might  be  expected,  there  was  plenty  of  embroidery,  needle- 
work and  laces.  The  Patent  Office  was  scoured  for  inventions  by  women. 
There  was  a  congress  of  women  writers,  reunions  of  all  the  women's 
benevolent  organizations,  and,  above  all,  exhibits  ofc  nursing.  Mrs. 
Palmer  considered  that  the  noblest  work  done  by  women  is  in  the  nurs- 
ing field. 

One  of  the  triumphs  of  the  women  was  that  women  physicians  were 
given  official  and  professional  recognition  at  the  Exposition.  Dr.  John 
E.  Owen,  medical  director  of  the  Fair,  placed  them  on  his  professional 
staff)  and  they  ranked  equally  with  men  in  the  Exposition  Hospital. 
This  was  an  institution  separate  and  distinct  from  the  model  hospital  in 
the  Woman's  Building,  which,  though  shown  as  an  exhibit,  was  equipped 
with  women  doctors  and  trained  nurses  and  handled  emergency  cases. 
A  large  number  of  small  accidents  always  occur  where  there  are  crowds. 

In  the  programme  the  cases  that  it  was  thought  would  be  numerous 
were  described  as  faintness,  hysterics,  weak  people  needing  rest,  etc. 
Some  of  these  were  cared  for  in  a  room  in  the  Department  of  Public 
Comfort  managed  by  women.  Other  rooms  were  established  at  intervals 
all  over  the  grounds.  There  was  likewise  an  ambulance  service,  each 
ambulance  being  accompanied  by  a  trained  nurse. 

Best  Methods  of  Nursing  the  Sick. 

In  the  nursing  department  there  were  shown  all  the  appliances,  such 
as  bandages  that  are  used  in  hospitals  and  a  plentiful  supply  of  instru- 
ments, surgical  and  orthopedic.  There  is  a  strong  effort  to  dislodge  old 
time  ideas  about  nursing,  which  consisted  in  ordering  the  patient  around 
and  treating  him  as  if  he  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  himself  for  getting 


314  WOMAN'S  BUILDING. 

sick.  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick,  who  was  sent  to  this  country  from  Eng- 
land by  the  Princess  Christian,  showed  a  very  interesting  set  of  articles. 
The  art  of  nursing  has  grown  to  be  a  society  fad  in  Great  Britain,  and 
there  are  many  advanced  ideas  about  it  there  from  which  American 
nurses  may  profit.  A  number  of  English  nurses  were  at  the  Exposition, 
and  Mrs.  Fenwick  admitted  that  they  too  had  plenty  to  learn  from  the 
Americans.  , 

It  was  frankly  announced  at  the  outset  by  Mrs.  Palmer  that  there' 
would  be  an  immense  amount  of  pressure  upon  the  space  at  her  disposal 
for  exhibits  that  had  no  merit  in  themselves  but  that  would  be  urged 
upon  her  acceptance  because  they  were  made  by  orphans  and  widows. 
When  dealing  with  articles  manufactured  by  women  she  said  that  the 
benevolent  side  of  the  dealer  seemed  to  come  to  the  surface  and  people 
were  expected  to  admire  or  purchase  solely  from  a  sympathetic  standpoint. 
All  that  sort  of  thing  it  was  decided  must  be  excluded,  "  otherwise," 
Mrs.  Palmer  truly  observed,  "  our  exhibit  might  come  to  be  one  that 

would  represent  the  incapacity  rather  than  the  capacity  of  our  sex." 

• 

Royal  Works  of  Art. 

Besides  the  nursing  exhibit  from  Great  Britain  there  were  shown  a 
number  of  works  of  art  by  the  royal  family.  Queen  Victoria  sent  a 
straw  hat  beaded  and  sewed  by  herself  and  six  water  color  drawings  of 
her  own.  Princess  Christian,  her  daughter,  contributed  two  oil  paintings, 
Princess  Louise  one  water  color  and  Princess  Beatrice  one  oil  painting. 
Then  there  were  eleven  works  of  art  by  the  best  painters  of  the  sex  in 
England.  Mrs.  Swynnerton  and  Mrs.  Lea  Merritt  sent  large  mural 
paintings  illustrating  woman's  work.  In  the  assembly  room  were  hung 
one  hundred  and  fifty  portraits  of  eminent  Englishmen  arranged  in 
groups  by  Miss  Helen  Blackburn. 

Lord  and  Lady  Aberdeen,  who  visited  Chicago  in  1 892  in  the  interest 
of  the  industries  of  Ireland,  many  of  which  are  carried  on  by  women, 
prepared  a  fine  collection  of  Irish  laces  and  knit  goods.  They  intro- 
duced these  articles  to  Chicago  dealers  and  stimulated  a  demand  for 
them.  Lady  Henry  Somerset,  who  is  a  pioneer  in  benevolent  work, 
showed  practical  examples  of  the  fruits  of  her  effort.  An  exhibit  from 
the  English  industrial  schools  explained  the  training  of  young  girls  for 
housework  and  other  occupations  of  women  in  that  country. 

The  boat  in  which  Grace  Darling  rescued  so  many  lives  from  ship- 
wreck, though  not  placed  in  the  Woman's  Building,  was  brought  to  this 
country  through  the  efforts  of  the  women.  It  was  placed,  perhaps 
inappropriately,  in  the  transportation  department.  It  was  obtained  only 


WOMAN'S  BUILDING.  315 

on  the  condition  that  a  contribution  box  should  be  attached  to  it  for  the 
reception  of  money  to  be  devoted  to  the  care  of  disabled  English 
seamen. 

Mrs.  French-Sheldon,  the  African  explorer,  placed  in  the  building  a 
very  fine  collection  of  clothing,  feathers,  shells  and  cooking  and  eating 
utensils  which  she  secured  on  her  trip  into  the  Dark  Continent.  These 
illustrate  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  African  tribes. 

Queen  of  Italy  Interested. 

Queen  Marguerita  of  Italy  personally  directed  the  preparation  of  the 
exhibit  from  that  country.  It  included  a  wonderful  collection  of  his- 
torical laces,  some  of  which  were  found  in  Etruscan  and  Egyptian  tombs. 
They  were  made,  some  of  them,  as  far  back  as  one  thousand  years 
before  Christ.  The  Queen  tendered  these  laces,  which  had  never  been 
allowed  to  leave  Italy  for  any  purpose  whatever,  at  a  time  when  the 
relations  between  her  government  and  ours  were  strained  on  account  of 
the  New  Orleans  incident.  No  valuation  was  set  upon  the  collection. 
It  was  considered  priceless.  A  member  of  the  Court  Guard  of  Italy 
accompanied  it,  in  addition  to  the  Countess  di  Brazza,  the  custodian  of 
the  exhibit.  The  Countess  is  an  American,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Miss  Cora  Slocum. 

The  Emperor  and  Empress  of  Russia  manifested  great  interest  in  the 
Woman's  Building  and  many  members  of  the  nobility  undertook  to 
make  collections.  The  Grand  Duchess  Elizabeth  Teodorowna,  of  Mos- 
cow, sent  a  number  of  samples  of  needlework  and  laces,  as  did  Mme. 
A.  N.  Narischkine.  From  Poland  came  a  collection  of  dolls,  dressed  in 
the  various  native  costumes.  All  these  things  were  placed  on  view  in 
the  Winter  Palace  at  St.  Petersburg  before  shipment  to  this  country. 

Chinese  women  had  never  participated  formally  in  any  Exposition. 
One  of  the  greatest  obstacles  to  an  exhibit  from  the  Flowery  Kingdom 
was,  of  course,  our  exclusion  law  which  naturally  is  very  offensive  to 
the  feelings  of  educated  Chinese.  A  special  act  of  Congress  was  passed 
permitting  Chinamen  and  Chinawomen  to  visit  the  Fair,  and  a  small 
exhibit  was  promised.  During  the  continuance  of  the  Exhibition  several 
nobles  visited  it  with  their  wives  and  the  latter  might  be  considered  a 
part  of  the  contribution  of  women  to  the  Fair.  China  erected  a  small 
but  interesting  booth,  showing  embroideries,  painting  and  garments. 
In  Tunis  and  Syria  local  prejudice  prevented  the  formation  of  a  woman's 
commission.  It  was  not  considered  proper  for  women  to  participate  in 
public  affairs.  This  condition  of  things  prevented  a  large  representation 
from  Oriental  countries. 


aiti  WOMAN'S  BUILDING 

Japanese  Courtesy. 

In  many  departments  of  the  Fair  the  Japanese  took  a  very  prominent 
part.  Their  exhibit  in  the  Woman's  Building  was  one  of  the  best  there. 
Throughout  the  work  the  attitude  of  the  Japanese  was  so  amiable  that 
they  were  quoted  as  models  of  manners.  They  sent,  for  example,  a 
communication  to  the  Board  insisting  on  paying  for  some  additional 
electric  lights  they  required  for  their  exhibit.  This  sort  of  spirit  was  not 
always  conspicuous  among  the  representatives  of  other  nations. 

The  Empress  of  Japan  appointed  a  committee,  of  which  the  Princess 
Mori  was  the  chairman.  They  got  together  pictures  in  the  pure  Japanese 
style,  carvings,  raw  silk  specimens  and  cocoons,  embroideries,  chinaware 
and  china  paintings,  lacquer,  hand  woven  gobelin,  lace  artificial  flowers 
and  a  number  of  other  things  of  the  same  sort. 

A  Japanese  boudoir  was  shown,  with  all  the  articles  of  toilet  of  a 
woman  of  rank  in  that  country.  These  were  special  loans  from  the 
treasures  of  the  Princess  Mori  and  the  Marchionesses  Maceda  and 
Nabeshima,  members  of  the  commission.  All  the  parts  of  the  boudoir 
were  manufactured  in  Japan  and  erected  in  the  building  by  native  car- 
penters. 

A  committee  of  the  Japanese  commissions  prepared  statistics  about 
women's  work,  education  and  their  charities.  They  also  printed  a  cata- 
logue of  the  articles  they  had  on  exhibition,  and  published  a  book 
entitled"  Nippon  Fujin,"  which  means  "Japanese  Women."  It  contained 
articles  on  woman's  position  in  society,  woman  in  administration  affairs, 
in  literature,  in  religion,  at  home  as  child,  wife  and  mother ;  woman  in 
industrial  occupations,  agriculture,  sericulture  and  mercantile  business  ; 
woman  in  refined  accomplishments,  fine  arts,  music,  painting,  floral 
arrangements,  incense,  tea  ceremonies,  etc.;  woman's  work  and  status  at 
the  present  time. 

Exhibit  from  Liberia. 

The  colored  women  of  Liberia  sent  an  exhibit  which  includes  church 
vestments  and  altar  pieces  embroidered  by  colored  nuns.  Those  of  the 
Southern  States,  Virginia,  for  instance,  where  there  are  not  many  white 
women  engaged  in  productive  enterprises,  are  creditably  represented. 

Large  preparations  were  made  for  the  sale  of  women's  work  in  the 
building.  Decorative  art  societies,  women's  exchanges,  industrial  and 
educational  unions  and  individuals  are  allowed  to  sell  exhibits  by 
samples.  The  sales  are  arranged  on  a  co-operative  plan,  each  exhibitor 
paying  her  share  of  the  expenses.  Twenty  per  cent,  is  charged  on  all 


WOMAN'S  BUILDING.  317 

sales  where  the  saleswomen  are  provided  by  the  management.  Of  this 
five  per  cent,  goes  to  the  Ways  and  Means  Committee  for  "  conces- 
sions," the  rest  being  placed  in  a  fund,  out  of  which  all  salaries  and 
other  expenses  attending  the  sales  are  defrayed.  Articles  admitted  for 
sale  must  be  the  original  work  of  the  exhibitor  or  its  manufactured 
value  must  be  greatly  enhanced  by  original  work. 

Guides  from  Many  Nations. 

Women  guides  are  provided  to  escort  women  about  the  grounds. 
They  have  been  selected  on  account  of  their  intelligence  and  knowledge 
of  locations,  having  been  required  to  pass  a  sort  of  examination  on 
these  points.  They  are  not  expected  to  escort  men.  Elderly  bald- 
heads  from  the  East  must  puzzle  the  thing  out  with  the  aid  of  a  map, 
employ  male  guides  or  be  content  to  lose  themselves  in  the  jungles  of 
Jackson  Park. 

These  women  guides  lack  the  loudly  declamatory  style  of  elocution 
so  much  affected  by  male  sight  showers.  Harshness  of  voice  and 
manner  were  a  bar  to  appointment.  They  have  been  selected  from 
different  nationalities,  so  that  women  who  don't  know  English  may 
have  everything  on  the  grounds  fully  explained  to  them. 

To  return  to  the  exhibits.  The  least  attractive  to  the  eye,  but  still 
one  of  the  most  perfect,  is  the  collection  of  statistics  about  women.  It 
was  a  surprise  to  the  managers  to  find  how  few  statistics  had  ever  been 
got  together  of  this  kind.  To  remedy  the  defect  the  Commissioners  in 
all  the  States,  Territories  and  foreign  countries  began  to  collect  all  the 
figures  they  could  as  to  the  number  of  wage  earners  or  self-supporting 
women ;  the  number  employed  in  factories,  stores,  shops,  and  offices ; 
the  number  owning  and  controlling  farms;  the  number  engaged  in 
mining,  horticulture  and  floriculture ;  in  professions,  in  domestic  ser- 
vice, authors,  teachers ;  those  engaged  in  art  work  and  designing,  liter- 
ary work  and  the  number  employed  in  other  lines.  Much  of  the  infor- 
mation obtained  has  been  engrossed  on  large  charts  which  are  hung  in 
the  building  and  studiously  scanned  by  visitors. 

Surprising  Facts. 

The  compilation  of  statistics  is  the  greatest  ever  attempted  in  refer- 
ence to  women.  Many  surprising  things  were  discovered  which  tended 
to  show  that  women  do  things  with  very  much  less  noise  than  men.  It 
was  found  that  a  tremendous  percentage  of  the  ready  made  clothing 
produced  in  the  United  States  is  made  by  women.  Forty-five  per  cent 
of  the  rugs  and  carpets  and  forty  per  cent,  of  the  big  rubber  belts 


318  WOMAN'S  BUILDING. 

employed  in  machinery  are  made  by  the  gentler  sex.  The  latter  fact 
was  a  surprise  even  to  the  managers  who  thought  themselves  well 
informed  on  the  industries  in  which  women  engage.  They  had  never 
heard  that  women  made  rubber  belting.  Ninety  per  cent,  of  the  silk 
thread,  it  is  found,  is  made  by  women. 

Then  in  the  statistics  as  to  benevolent  societies  the  women  are  well 
in  the  front.  Hundreds  of  Bohemian  organizations  were  unearthed, 
whose  object  is  the  advancement  of  the  sex.  Very  naturally  not  many 
of  these  are  secret  societies,  but  still  a  few  are,  disproving  the  very 
much  believed  statement  that  women  cannot  keep  secrets. 

A  Beautiful  Library. 

Among  the  other  surprises  brought  out  as  to  women  were  facts  as  to 
their  literary  capacity.  It  was  found  that  for  centuries  women  have 
written  the  most  profound  works,  not  only  in  English  speaking  lands, 
but  in  the  monarchies  usually  considered  opposed  to  their  education. 
Italy  and  Spain  have  had  women  authors  whose  writings  on  the  exact 
sciences  are  standard  in  those  countries.  - 

The  library  which  is  57  feet  long  by  37  feet  wide,  was  fitted  up  at 
the  expense  of  the  women  of  New  York  State.  The  furniture  and 
decorations  and  antique  wainscoting  are  of  the  Italian  style.  Mrs. 
Dora  Wheeler  Keith,  of  New  York,  painted  the  ceiling,  which  is  of  the 
sixteenth  century  style  of  Venitian  art,  its  groups  representing  history, 
romance,  imagination  and  the  arts.  .  In  general  the  adornment  of  the 
room  follows  the  Italian  Renaissance.  Many  of  the  books  written  by 
American  women  about  the  year  1840,  it  is  found  have  become  very 
rare.  Some  copies  that  could  not  be  found  in  this  country  were  sent 
here  from  England.  After  the  Fair  is  over  all  the  collections  of  liter- 
ature go  to  the  State  library  at  Albany. 

Italy  sent  a  big  collection  of  sensible  pamphlets  about  industrial 
matters.  Germany's  exhibit  of  309  volumes  is  very  fine.  In  the  set 
are  two  big  volumes  on  archaeology.  Even  Kansas  sent  many  books,  and 
they  were  not  about  politics  or  corn  at  $10  a  bushel,  either.  In  California 
the  women  are  occupying  important  positions  in  viticulture  and  they 
have  written  a  good  deal  on  the  subject.  They  are  employed  in  that 
State  in  large  numbers  as  wine  tasters. 

Inventors,  Too. 

In  the  department  of  the  inventions  woman  has  her  place.  It  has 
often  been  observed  with  a  little  reproachfulness  that  the  sewing 
machine  was  invented  by  man  and  that  many  labor  saving  devices  are 


WOMAN'S  BUILDING.  319 

the  product  of  his  brain,  even  when  the  machines  are  not  to  be  used  by 
htm.  Among  woman's  inventions  is  a  patent  reservoir.  That  comes 
from  California.  Another  is  a  window  that  works  on  a  pivot,  so  that 
the  outside  can  be  cleaned  from  the  inside.  It  turns  around  like  a 
water  wheel.  A  device  for  stopping  a  runaway  horse  is  also  shown. 
It  will  be  seen  then,  that  woman's  mind  is  not  always  on  babies  and 
pie  making.' 

In  connection  with  the  woman's  exhibit  a  woman's  hotel  was  built 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  unprotected  during  the  Fair.  It  holds 
five  thousand  women,  and  the  charge  for  a  room  is  less  than  forty 
cents  per  day,  which  of  course  does  not  include  meals.  Those 
who  would  be  guests  purchase  $10  worth  of  stock  in  the  hotel 
company,  and  for  this  sum  they  are  allowed  to  reside  in  the  hotel 
for  one  month,  and  if  the  company  makes  enough  money  to  pay  it  they 
are  entitled  to  a  dividend  of  ten  per  cent,  on  their  stock  after  everything 
has  been  cleared  up  at  the  close  of  the  season.  Though  run  as  a  semi- 
benevolent  institution,  this  hotel  is  by  no  means  a  charity. 

The  stock  was  divided  among  the  different  States  and  localities 
according  to  their  population.  Purchasers  were  required  to  name  the 
approximate  dates  of  their  arrival  and  departure  so  that  the  hotel  might 
not  be  overflowing  with  guests  at  one  time  and  empty  at  another. 
Precautions  were  taken  to  prevent  the  awkwardness  of  all  the  woman 
arriving  at  the  hotel  on  the  same  day.  Mrs.  McAdow,  the  mining 
engineer  who  made  a  few  million  dollars  in  a  few  years,  took  quarters 
at  the  hotel  for  herself  and  her  maid.  It  may  seem  strange  that 
a  woman  who  can  afford  a  maid  occupies  a  forty  cent  room,  but  Mrs. 
McAdow  believes  both  in  saving  money  herself  and  setting  examples 
in  economy  to  others. 

Women  who  Catch  Fish. 

The  State  of  New  Jersey  employs  scores  of  women  in  its  fishing 
industries,  and  these  are  well  illustrated  with  seines  and  nets  which  are 
displayed  in  the  model  kitchen. 

Upon  the  roof  of  the  Woman's  Building  is  a  very  fine  garden,  from 
which  a  good  view  can  be  had  of  the  Fair.  There  the  visitor  can  sip 
tea  and  listen  to  the  strains  of  a  woman's  orchestra. 

The  women  of  Illinois  erected  a  special  building  for  the  exhibition  of 
a  model  emergency  hospital.  Besides  showing  the  nursing  methods 
of  the  natives  there  is  displayed  a  pharmaceutical  collection,  in  which 
everything  can  be  seen  from  court  plaster  to  paregoric.  The  Illinois 
Training  School  for  Nurses  shows  its  plans  for  nursing  the  sick. 


320  WOMAN'S  BUILDING. 

Ceylonese  women  have  a  court  of  their  own  in  the  building.  It  is 
built  of  the  woods  of  the  island  and  fashioned  in  the  style  of  2,000 
years  ago.  It  is  faced  with  pillars  of  carved  ebony,  braced  together 
with  ebony  beams.  Lace  embroideries  and  jewels  are  shown  and  two 
Ceylonese  women  make  tea  to  illustrate  that  conversation  is  not  a  lost 
art  in  Ceylon.  In  the  Spanish  collection  is  the  sword  of  Queen  Isabella. 
It  comes  from  the  Royal  Armory  at  Madrid,  and  is  a  reminder  of  the 
military  authority  belonging  to  some  of  the  old  time  queens. 

x 

The  Model  Kitchen. 

The  model  kitchen  with  its  cookery  lessons  is  a  favorite  resort. 
Those  visitors  who  have  any  thirst  for  knowledge  are  taught  how  to 
broil  steaks  instead  of  boiling  them  in  grease  on  a  frying  pan,  and  other 
interesting  secrets  of  the  kitchen  are  imparted.  After  the  Philadelphia 
Centennial  Exposition  it  was  said  that  an  immense  movement  in  favor  of 
better  and  more  artistic  architecture  swept  over  the  country.  The 
women's  work  will  be  directed  toward  creating  a  tidal  wave  that  will 
sweep  from  the  land  a  large  amount  of  the  wretchedness  it  contains  due 
to  dyspepsia. 

As  a  result  of  inquiries  as  to  exhibits  not  in  the  Woman's  Building, 
but  which  are  made  either  wholly  or  in  part  by  women,  a  very  good 
idea  of  the  work  of  the  sex  was  gleaned  by  the  managers.  This  infor- 
mation, the  object  of  which  was  not  very  clear  when  it  was  collected, 
has  been  used  in  this  way: — All  the  women  who  either  designed  or 
produced  any  of  the  exhibits  that  receive  medals  from  the  Exposition 
receive  duplicate  medals  for  themselves.  The  appropriation  of  $5,000 
to  pay  for  these  medals  was  secured  by  Mrs.  Potter  Palmer,  who 
insisted  that  the  women  who  made  the  articles  should  be  recognized 
equally  with  the  men  who  happened  to  own  them.  At  no  previous 
Exposition  has  this  been  done.  When  a  manufacturer  receives  a  medal, 
if  the  person  who  manufactured  the  deserving  exhibit  was  a  woman  she 
receives  an  exact  duplicate  of  the  medal  given  to  her  employer. 

Accompanying  the  medal  is  a  certificate  that  confers  a  standing  upon 
the  woman  wage  earner  and  no  doubt  gives  her  a  value  in  the  labor 
mirket  that  she  otherwise  would  not  obtain,  as  so  many  of  the  products 
of  the  workers  are  anonymous.  The  justice  of  this  provision  must  be 
admitted  by  the  male  workers  in  every  occupation. 

American  Art  Association. 

The  American  Art  Association  of  New  York  prepared  a  most 
interesting  exhibit.  All  theories  of  what  women  can  do  lack  value 
until  they  are  put  into  tangible,  apparent  results.  What  this  exhibition 


9  WOMAN'S  BUILDING.  321 

shows  is,  that  although  there  may  be  much  idle  talk  concerning  the 
possible  achievements  of  women,  a  certain  number  of  women  have  gone 
to  work  and  done  something,  and  are  not  ashamed  to  put  it  before  the 
eyes  of  the  world.  The  greater  partis  in  the  line  of  things  done  before. 
Inevitably  the  needle  has  a  prominent  place.  But  a  great  deal  shown 
has  not  generally  been  done  by  women,  and  indicates  the  success  of 
their  incursion  into  the  livelihoods,  and  among  the  ranks  of  men.  The 
most  valuable  part  is,  of  course,  that  which  no  one  has  done  before,  and 
which  grafts  originality  into  achievement. 

The  most  conspicuous  works  shown  are  the  tapestries  of  the  Associ- 
ated Artists.  Of  these  the  largest  piece  is  a  copy  of  Raphael's  cartoon 
"  The  Miraculous  Draught  of  Fishes,"  embroidered  by  Miss  Anna 
Lyman,  but  does  not  illustrate  so  completely  the  originality  of  the 
tapestries  both  in  design  and  execution,  as  the  six  smaller  works,  which 
are  still  large,  "  Alice  Pyncheon,"  "  Minnehaha,"  "  Peacocks,"  "  Pene- 
lope," "  Psyche,"  "  Crescent,"  designed  by  Mrs.  Dora  Wheeler  Keith. 
The  first  two  belong  to  a  series  intended  to  illustrate  characters  from 
American  fiction.  Alice  Pyncheon  is  from  Hawthorne's  "  Seven  Gables," 
and  represents  the  flight  of  Alice  in  her  wedding  garments  through  the 
snow.  The  charm  of  this,  as  of  the  ideal  conceptions  of  "Psyche," 
"  Penelope  "  and  the  "  Crescent,"  and  that  gorgeous  piece  of  color, 
"  Peacocks,"  is  that  they  not  only  suggest  the  subtleties  of  modelling 
in  the  faces,  but  convey  the  more  pervasive  charm  of  sentiment. 

What  the  Gobelin  tapestries  have  done  for  the  art  of  Watteau  and 
Boncher  these  modern  and  American  tapestries  do  for  modern  art. 
There  is  unfortunately  no  work  in  this  exhibition'  that  translates  the 
broad  water-color  effects  of  modern  art,  but  the  smaller  work,  "  Algerian 
Bootblack,"  illustrates  how  effectively  may  be  conveyed  the  brilliancy 
and  methods  of  modern  works  in  oil. 

A  New  Material. 

This  work  has  only  been  possible  through  the  manufacture  of  an  en- 
tirely new  material.  This  is  a  magnificent  fabric  of  silk,  which  allows 
the  passing  of  the  color  by  a  needle  through  the  web  so  that  it  becomes  in- 
corporated with  the  fabric  itself.  While  this  permits  the  translation,  as  was 
stated,  of  the  effects  of  oil,  it  presents  a  perfectly  smooth  surface  that 
adapts  the  pieces  for  the  years  of  service  that  the  old  tapestries  have- 
rendered.  This  tapestry  stuff  is  not  the  only-  new  thing  in  textiles  that 
have  come  from  these  women's  hands.  The  shadow  silks  and  the  cloths 
of  silver  and  gold  are  entirely  new  effects  resulting  from  peculiar 
manipulations  of  the  loom. 

21 


322  WOMAN'S  BUILDING.  ^ 

These  have  come  about  through  the  necessity  of  having  certain  fabrics 
for  certain  artistic  effects  which  could  not  be  procured  elsewhere.  The 
shadow  silks  represent  that  play  of  light,  shade  and  color  seen  in  vines 
and  trees  in  sunlight — an  effect  which,  with  past  theories  of  decoration, 
would  not  have  been  held  permissible.  To  render  perspective  decorative 
is  a  hint  we  have  taken  from  the  Japanese.  The  shadow  silks  render 
not  only  perspective,  but  convey  through  a  shimmer  of  color  the  sense 
of  tremulous  motion.  Work  of  this  sort  may  fairly  be  considered  an 
achievement,  and  may  fitly  be  placed  alongside  the  textile  fabrics  of  any 
country.  That  it  has  been  done  by  a  woman  is  a  matter  for  congratu- 
lation. It  is  telling  no  secret  that  the  woman  is  Mrs.  Candace  Wheeler, 
and  that  her  work,  in  the  larger  commercial  sense,  has  added  to  the 
wealth  of  the  nation.  It  is  a  tribute  to  woman's  inventive  genius. 

Artistic  Designs. 

In  the  designs  for  textiles  and  wall  paper  a  group  of  women  have 
done  some  notable  things.  The  distinction  of  this  modern  school  of 
design,  formed  chiefly  by  women,  is  that  they  have  all  had  that  previous 
artistic  training  that  they  can  turn  in  one  direction  or  another.  The 
designer  of  wall  papers  and  textiles,  as  a  rule,  began  mixing  colors  as  a 
boy,  and  having  acquired  the  technicalties  of  his  trade,  takes  up  design. 
The  women  approach  design  from  the  opposite  direction,  and  from  the 
study  of  motives  out  of  the  boundless  resources  of  nature,  learn  last  the 
necessary  technicalities  for  its  reproduction.  This  accounts  for  the 
freshness  of  their  impressions,  new  motives  and  the  originality  of  their 
designs. 

In  stained  glass  and  glass  mosaics  the  most  important  work  has  been 
done  by  women.  It  will  surprise  many  visitors  to  this  exhibition  to  see 
how  much  of  the  work  done  by  large  firms,  such  as  the  Tiffany  Glass 
Company,  is  by  women.  This  is  a  work  that  has  not  only  its  artistic,  but 
also  its  commercial  side,  and  it  is  the  commercial  side  that,  after  all, 
attests  its  worth  to  women,  since  it  demonstrates  the  value  of  their 
work  as  a  livelihood,  which  is,  after  all,  the  important  thing  to  women. 

China  Decoration. 

Almost  every  one  may  estimate  the  distinct  advance  made  by  women 
in  painted  china  by  comparing  that  here  with  the  work  done  by 
amateurs  a  few  years  ago.  In  one  case  is  collected  china  that  is  done 
by  a  number  of  women,  fish  and  game  services,  and  special  pieces  that 
would  not  discredit  the  imported  and  professional  work  of  the  best 
houses. 


WOMAN'S  BUILDING  323 

To  return  to  the  all-conquering  needle,  some  of  the  most  beautiful 
work  shown  is  in  the  church  embroideries.  The  St.  Mary's  Ecclesi- 
astical Art  Society,  in  the  beauty  of  execution  and  color  of  the  work 
shown,  almost  surpasses  the  old  Italian  church  embroideries.  There  is 
a  burse  shown  by  these  embroideries  that  renders  the  figures  of  six 
disciples  walking,  three  in  each,  in  solemn  procession  against  a  back- 
ground of  sea  and  sky.  The  expressive,  devotional  character  of  the 
scene,  the  quaint  beauty  of  its  color,  alike  rendered  by  the  needle,  are 
among  its  most  beautiful  triumphs.  Another  work  as  beautiful  as  an 
opal  in  color  is  "  The  Annunciation,"  and  with  this  may  be  numbered 
"  The  Expulsion  of  Adam  and  Eve,"  with  its  delicate  silvery  tint.  All 
these  are  attractive  exhibits,  both  in  design  and  novelty. 

A  Charming  Window. 

Boston  is  represented  in  the  Woman's  Building  at  the  Exposition  and 
is  viewed  through  rose-colored  glasses,  for  Miss  Mary  C.  Sears,  the 
artist,  of  whom  her  city  is  justly  proud,  designed  a  magnificent  window 
and  the  women  of  Boston  donated  it  to  the  Fair.  The  window  is  seven 
feet  tall,  including  the  transom,  and  is  divided  into  a  central  panel  with 
a  wide  border.  The  design  is  suggestive  of  the  erudition  of  the  modern 
Athens ;  the  row  of  books,  the  laurel  and  the  palm.  The  seal  of  the 
commonwealth  also  appears.  The  border  is  a  conventional  scroll  of 
Renaissance  ornament.  A  vine  of  deep  green  is  picked  out  here  and 
there  by  brilliant  color  prints,  and  the  garland  is  graceful  and  pleasing. 

The  window  was  made  by  a  Boston  glass  firm  and  the  work  of 
producing  the  finest  tints  and  most  delicate  variations  of  shade  in  the 
metal  without  the  use  of  pigments  was  eminently  successful,  as  a  close 
examination  shows. 

Paintings  by  Women. 

Mrs.  Rosina  Emmet  Sherwood  and  her  sister,  Miss  Lydia  Emmet 
painted  two  large  panels  that  adorn  the  Woman's  Building. 

Mrs.  Sherwood  chose  for  her  subject  the  Republic,  personified  in  a 
red-capped,  white-robed  woman,  bestowing  laurels  upon  literature,  art, 
music  and  the  home,  as  represented  in  the  arts  by  graceful  young 
women,  and  in  the  case  of  the  rising  generation  by  a  chubby  little  boy 
at  his  mother's  knee,  who  typifies  the  hope  of  the  Republic. 

Miss  Emmet  undertook  to  represent  and  glorify  the  arts  that  are 
open  to  the  women  of  our  land  by  five  young  women  students,  one  of 
them  representing  music,  another  art  needlework,  and  others  sculpture, 
painting,  and  learning. 


324  WOMAN'S   BUILDING. 

In  both  cases  the  panels  are  some  twelve  feet  in  height  and  are  very 
broadly  and  strongly  painted  in  dull  colors,  in  order  to  be  seen  to  good 
advantage.  The  figures  are  all  carefully  drawn  and  very  well  compared 
and  the  colors  are  simple  and  harmonious.  Both  in  sentiment  and 
execution  they  are  worthy  adornments  of  the  building  designed  by  and 
for  the  women  of  the  land  to  illustrate  their  place  and  progress  in  the 
fine  arts.  The  building  contains  many  similar  symbolic  designs. 

Queen   Victoria's    Contribution. 

Her  Majesty  Queen  Victoria  has  contributed  six  water  color  draw- 
ings to  the  British  art  department  in  the  Woman's  Building.  These 
paintings  are  all  placed  in  the  main  hall  as  also  two  oil  paintings  by 
the  Princess  Christian,  a  water  color  by  Princess  Louise,  and  one 
painting  by  the  Princess  Beatrice.  In  addition  to  these  specimens 
of  royal  art  work  there  are  eleven  other  paintings  executed  by 
prominent  English  women,  and  which  are  said  to  be  excellent  pro- 
ductions. The  English  women  have  decorated  the  east  vestibule  to 
represent  an  Italian  courtyard.  On  the  ceiling  is  painted  a  curtain ; 
over  the  doorway  and  arches  are  figures  in  plaster  modeled  by  Miss 
Pope  and  Miss  Halle,  typifying  Faith,  Hope,  Purity,  Charity,  Peace, 
Sympathy,  Wisdom,  and  Fortitude.  On  the  walls  are  six  panel  paint- 
ings done  on  canvas.  The  center  panel  is  a  picture  of  Florence 
Nightingale  in  the  temporary  hospital  at  Scutari  during  the  Crimean 
war.  To  the  left  of  the  center  panel  is  a  smaller  one  picturing 
"Motherhood."  The  one  on  the  right  is  called  " Care  of  the  Aged." 
On  the  opposite  wall  are  the  works  of  Anna  Lea  Merritt.  The  center 
panel  represents  several  women  studying  the  art  of  embroidery. 
On  a  step  in  front  of  the  picture  two  children  are  solving  the  problem 
of  how  to  use  a  needle.  The  dado  and  floor  in  the  vestibule  are 
made  of  Tennessee  marble. 

Two  Remarkable  Canvases. 

The  two  large  canvases  for  the  mural  surfaces  at  the  ends  of 
the  gallery  of  honor  in  the  Woman's  Building  attract  much  attention. 
The  paintings  were  executed  in  Paris,  but  the  artists  are  both  American 
women.  One  of  them,  Mrs.  MacMonnies,  who,  by  the  way,  is  the  wife 
of  the  sculptor  who  made  the  celebrated  fountain  for  the  grand  court  of 
the  Exposition,  is  well  known  in  America  through  previous  excellent 
work.  Miss  Cassatt,  on  the  contrary,  is  almost  entirely  unknown 
in  this,  her  native  country,  although  widely  recognized  abroad  as  an  artist 
of  ability.  She  is  a  woman  of  independent  fortune  and  paints  only  what 


WOMAN'S  BUILDING.  325 

and  where  she  pleases,  and  it  was  through  the  individual  efforts  of 
Mrs.  Palmer  that  Miss  Cassatt  was  induced  to  undertake  the  important 
work,  now  complete,  which  forms  one  of  the  great  features  of  the  most 
interesting  building  in  the  World's  Fair. 

The  canvas  of  Mrs.  MacMonnies  represents  primitive  woman.  It  is 
in  three  sections  and  depicts  various  and  slowly  progressive  eras  in  the 
early  history  of  woman.  There  is  an  Egyptian  effect  in  the  drapery  of 
some  of  the  figures,  and  in  the  antique  jars  borne  on  their  heads.  The 
women  of  the  great  painting,  with  their  children  about  them,  are  en- 
gaged in  the  domestic  avocations  and  social  enterprises  of  an  elementary 
and  primitive  nature,  characteristic  of  that  rudimentary  period  of  her 
industrial  and  intellectual  development.  There  are  male  figures,  too, 
in  the  scenes,  amusing  themselves  according  to  the  masculine  fancy  of 
the  time,  or  arduously  pursuing  the  chase. 

Miss  Cassatt' s  canvas  portrays  in  vivid  contrast  the  modern  woman, 
the  finest  flower  of  the  twentieth  century.  This  canvas  also  is  in  three 
divisions,  and  is  surrounded  by  a  border  of  deep  blue  medallions,  on 
which  are  exquisitely  painted  the  nude  figures  of  a  myriad  of  beautiful 
children.  The  first  section  of  the  canvas  contains  three  graceful  women, 
with  the  rush  of  swift  winds  in  their  blown  drapery.  They  pursue  a 
mysterious  something,  dim  and  elusive  in  the  shadowy  distance.  The 
central  scene  lies  in  an  orchard,  where  the  highly  civilized  women  of 
to-day  taste  the  rosy  ripened  fruit  of  the  tree  of  knowledge.  All  is  sun- 
shine, liberty,  and  progress,  and  the  concluding  section  of  the  canvas  is 
a  half-playful  declaration  of  independence  by  a  pretty  woman  "  making 
a  kettle  "  with  her  skirts.  That  is  charming. 

These  two  great  paintings  by  celebrated  women  artists,  on  the  oppo- 
site ends  of  the  gallery  of  honor  in  the  woman's  building,  tell  a  moving 
tale  more  eloquently  than  volumes  of  lectures  could,  and  are  evidences 
of  superior  artistic  ability. 

An  Exquisite  Decoration. 

Miss  Magda  M.  Heuermann  furnished  in  pyrography,  a  remarkably 
clever  bit  of  work  in  the  decoration  of  a  linen  press  and  an  antique 
chair  for  exhibition  in  the  Woman's  Building.  The  style  and  design  of 
the  chair  are  of  the  period  of  1532,  and  the  decoration  of  the  press  is  of 
a  German  renaissance.  The  press  is  made  of  black  walnut  with  panels 
of  white  maple,  and  on  the  latter  the  artistic  designs  are  burned.  The 
figure  of  a  good  German  housewife  is  shown  on  each  of  the  front  panels ; 
engaged  in  spinning  in  one  case ;  holding  a  roll  of  finished  linen  in  the 
other.  The  story  here  told  is  taken  from  Schiller's  song  of  "  The  Bell," 


326  WOMAN'S   BUILDING. 

and  Miss  Heuermann  has  wrought  part  of  the  story  in  German  around 
the  edges.  Here  is  a  translation  of  the  stanza  with  which  she  has 
decorated  the  press  : 

She  filleth  with  treasures  the  sweet-scented  presses, 

Sends  flying  the  thread,  round  the  low-humming  spindle, 

And  gathers  in  chests,  bright  burnished  and  neat, 
The  glistening  wool  and  the  linen  snow-white. 

Japanese  Beauties. 

A  room  in  the  upper  corridor  is  filled  with  beautiful  Japanese  screens, 
tables,  and  panel  pictures.  Most  of  the  hangings  and  screens  are  in  the 
conventional  style  which  art  stores  have  made  so  familiar,  but  there  are, 
perhaps,  a  half-dozen  exceptions.  One  is  a  peacock  screen,  a  gorgeous 
piece  of  coloring,  the  ground-work  in  gold,  against  which  the  beautiful 
bird  stands  outlined,  all  the  irridescent  hues  of  the  feathers  being  brought 
out  in  strong  relief. 

Opposite  the  door  hangs  a  Japanese  master-piece,  a  lady  of  the  days 
of  1001  on  her  way  to  the  Buddhist  temple.  The  artist  accompanies 
the  picture  with  an  explanatory  note  in  English  which  sets  forth  that 
the  costume  is  that  of  a  learned  lady  of  ancient  days.  Very  magnificent 
it  is,  too,  being  of  white  brocade  with  petticoat  of  crimson  and  yellow. 
Behind  her  are  two  attendants,  an  old  woman  and  a  young  one.  Youth 
and  age  are  well  depicted.  The  coloring  of  this  picture  is  superb.  It 
is  framed  in  corded  white  silk,  and  is  surmounted  by  the  royal  crest,  the 
blossom  and  leaves  of  the  kiri. 

The  picture  of  a  baby  and  a  dragon  fly  attracted  a  great  deal  of 
attention,  the  infant  being  of  sturdy  build — not  one  whit  almond-eyed 
— and  arrayed  in  garments  babyhood  might  wear  in  America  as  well  as 
in  Japan.  One  hand  grasps  and  relentlessly  crushes  the  fragile  dragon- 
fly. The  picture  is  framed  in  conventional  Japanese  style. 

No  Japanese  exhibit  would  be  complete  without  chrysanthemums, 
and  so  a  flower  piece  composed  of  these  royal  beauties  occupies  a 
prominent  place  on  one  wall.  While  not  as  large  as  some,  the  art 
exhibit  of  the  Japanese  women  is  very  attractive,  as  is  shown  by  the 
steady  tide  of  visitors  passing  in  and  out. 

Swedish  Women's  Exhibit. 

The  Swedish  committee  places  exhibits  in  the  gallery  of  honor,  the 
library,  the  art  department,  and  the  musical  department.  The  wall 
space  allotted  to  Sweden  is  covered  with  tapestries  and  hanging  collec- 
tions of  laces,  etc.  In  the  gallery  of  honor  women  place  an  altar-piece, 


WOMAN'S   BUILDING.  327 

richly  embroidered  and  ornamented ;  gobelin  tapestry  ;  door  hangings  ; 
sculptured,  embroidered,  and  painted  folding  screens,  and  a  carved 
walnut  showcase  containing  a  rare  collection  of  medals.  In  the  library 
they  exhibit  125  volumes  of  Swedish  literature,  and  a  collection  of  pho- 
tographs of  Sweden's  eminent  literary  women. 

Musical  manuscripts  for  orchestras  are  exhibited  on  a  large  easel, 
together  with  photographs  and  biographical  sketches  of  Swedish  women 
distinguished  for  musical  talent.  Four  other  notable  portraits  exhibited 
are  those  of  the  Queen  Sophia,  of  Frederika-Bremer,  'of  Christiana, 
Queen  of  Sweden,  and  St.  Bridget,  the  latter  copied  from  a  fresco 
painting.  A  lady  of  Sweden  also  painted  a  beautiful  glass  window, 
representing  St.  Bridget. 

A  Norwegian  Group. 

The  Norwegian  Industrial  Society  of  Illinois  also  made  a  choice 
display.  While  every  article  is  the  work  of  women  living  in  Illinois,  it 
is  all  such  as  has  been  done  from  time  immemorial  by  the  women  of 
Norway,  and  a  fair  idea  of  life  in  the  land  of  the  midnight  sun  can  be 
gleaned  from  it.  A  tiny  log  cabin  occupies  a  prominent  place,  and 
around  it  are  grouped  peasants  in  costume.  Some  are  in  cotton  and 
some  in  holiday  attire  of  silk,  while  one  fair  damsel  stands  arrayed  in 
bridal  robes — literally  robes,  four  skirts  of  black,  of  red,  gray,  and  white 
forming  the  lower  portion  of  the  costume,  enhanced  by  bodice  of  gay 
embroidery  and  supplemented  by  a  shawl  headdress.  City  girls  in  more 
elaborate  attire  and  old  women  in  church-going  costume,  together  with 
Norwegian  swells  of  the  first  water,  complete  this  picture  of  still  life. 

At  the  entrance  to  the  booth  stands  a  woman  of  Norway  on  snow- 
shoes.  Evidently  she  has  just  returned  from  a  shell  gathering  expedi- 
tion, the  basket  on  her  back  and  pail  on  her  arm  being  filled  with  them. 
Many  curious  articles  are  in  this  exhibit,  a  mangle  of  the  year  1684 
being  one  of  the  possessions  of  which  the  ladies  are  particularly  proud. 
This  is  of  elaborately  carved  wood,  with  the  handle  carved.  A 
beautiful  mat  woven  of  feathers  covers  the  pedestal  on  which  the 
Norwegian  woman  stands. 

An  old-fashioned  woven  bedspread,  piles  of  homespun  linen,  a 
beautiful  hand-embroidered  shawl  of  white  silk,  bell-rope  of  worsted  and 
shells,  and  embroidery  by  the  Norway  peasant  girls  are  among  the 
many  beautiful  articles  displayed.  A  very  curious  mat  is  one  of  the 
woven  worsteds  in  red  and  black.  These  are  but  things  visible. 
Stowed  away  in  odd  corners  and  in  glass  cases  are  many  more,  which 
the  smiling  exhibitor  is  always  ready  to  show. 


328 


WOMAN'S    BUILDING. 


Kate  Marsden's    Leper  Village. 

An  exhibit  in  the  Woman's  Building  which  appeals  strongly  to  the 
heart  of  the  philanthropist  is  the  model  of  Kate  Marsden's  Siberian 
leper  village. 

Miss  Marsden  is  a  professional  nurse  of  the  order  of  the  Red  Cross, 
an  English  girl  whose  heart  was 
moved  with  pity  for  the  sufferings 
of  the  lepers  in  the  lonely  depths 
of  the  forests  of  Siberia.  Of  her 
own  accord  she  started  on  the  mis- 
sion which  has  become  her  life- 
work,  and  no  more  thrilling  account 
of  adventures,  whether  by  land  or 
sea,  can  be  found  than  the  story  of 
her  heroic  search  for  those  who 
since  time  was  have  been  accursed. 

She  traveled  7,000  miles,  2,000 
of  them  on  horseback.  Even  after 
she  reached  her  journey's  end  her 
search  for  the  unfortunates  was  long 
and  tedious,  but  at  last  she  found 
them,  in  the  heart  of  the  forest, 
living  in  rude  mud  huts,  in  the 
deepest  degradation  and  despair. 
Her  appeals  for  help  touched  the 
heart  of  her  queen,  Victoria,  and 
reached  the  ears  of  the  Empress  of 
Russia.  They  are  rendering  her 

assistance.  In  Russia  and  Siberia  she  raised  money  enough  to  erect 
temporary  habitations  for  the  lepers,  and  she  came  to  America  for  the 
purpose  of  raising  more  money  with  which  to  complete  her  plans. 

The  exhibit  at  the  Fair  consists  of  photographs  and  autograph  letters, 
and  a  plan  of  the  village,  or  rather  leper  station,  which  will  stand  in  the 
northeast  portion  of  Siberia,  in  the  province  of  Takulsh.  There  are 
two  immense  hospital  buildings  for  the  use  of  those  utterly  incapacitated 
for  work,  surrounded  by  a  village  of  smaller  houses,  where  leper 
families  can  live  as  happily  as  it  is  possible  for  those  so  afflicted  to  do. 
The  village  itself  is  located  on  a  river,  and  back  of  it  is  a  lake.  The 
whole — as  well  as  the  small  huts  in  which  the  wretched  people  lived 
when  found — is  faithfully  reproduced  in  the  model. 


MODEL   OF   A   LEPER  S   HOME. 


WOMAN'S   BUILDING.  329 

British  Nurse  Work. 

No  room  in  the  Woman's  Building  attracts  more  attention  than  that 
in  which  the  British  nursing  exhibit  is  displayed.  This  is  under 
the  control  of  the  British  royal  commission,  under  the  presidency  of 
Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick,  who  is  herself  a  practical  and  professional 
nurse.  The  exhibit  is  in  charge  of  Mrs.  Bond,  at  one  time  one  of  her 
Majesty's  nurses.  Mrs.  Bond  has,  for  noble  service  rendered  in  her 
profession,  been  the  recipent  of  four  medals,  noticeably  that  of  the 
Royal  Red  Cross,  conferred  by  Queen  Victoria. 

The  exhibit  is  divided  into  sections  and  is  placed  in  large  glass 
cases  against  the  walls.  The  first  section  is  devoted  to  specimens 
of  all  sorts  of  ligatures  and  bandages  used  in  binding  wounds  and 
in  hospital  service.  The  bandages  are  of  all  materials,  from  gauze 
to  oil  silk,  and  are  in  infinite  variety.  A  model  of  a  rack  for  holding 
bandages  is  in  this  collection.  Below  are  the  surgical  instruments 
used  by  nurses  in  their  profession,  including  everything  from  a  cambric 
needle  to  syringes  and  cases  of  scissors.  Every  sort  of  thermometer 
from  the  wall  thermometer  to  that  used  for  testing  children's  food  is  here. 

Particularly  interesting  are  glasses  for  measuring  medicine,  made  of 
opal  glass.  These  are  intended  for  use  in  a  dim  light  and  are  a  great 
protection.  This  section  also  contains  a  set  of  crockery  to  be  used  in 
typhoid  cases,  consisting  of  all  the  paraphernalia  of  the  sick-room. 
Each  piece  is  marked  typhoid  and  the  use  of  it  is  considered  necessary 
in  order  to  avoid  contagion.  The  exhibit  is  complete  in  whatever  affords 
comfort  in  the  sick  room,  and  can  in  any  way  help  the  patient  to  a 
speedy  recovery. 

Hygienic  Clothing. 

The  second  section  is  devoted  to  hygienic  clothing  designed  by  Miss 
Franks,  of  London,  the  different  articles  being  such  as  are  worn  by 
British  professional  nurses  and  by  them  recommended  to  their  patients. 
Of  course  all  articles  displayed  in  this  section  are  for  underwear,  and 
consist  of  flannel  undergarments,  ventilated  corsets  for  summer  wear  and 
knit  ones  for  winter,  stockings,  and  the  hygienic  shoe  invented  by  Mrs, 
Fenwick.  This  shoe  is  adapted  for  the  sick  room,  and  is  modeled  on 
the  human  foot.  It  is  well  ventilated,  has  steel  springs  over  the  instep 
and  a  rubber  heel,  rendering  it  perfectly  noiseless.  The  Eureka  stocking 
clipper  attracts  the  attention  of  most  women,  promising  as  it  does  relief 
frcm  the  uncomfortable  garter.  The  clipper  is  so  adjusted  as  to  bear 
on  no  vein,  and  thus  perfect  comfort  and  perfect  freedom  are  secured. 


330  WOMAN'S   BUILDING. 

Infant's  hygienic  clothing  is  also  displayed,  and  here  the  articles  are 
complete  throughout,  from  the  tiny  inner  band  to  the  outside  robe. 

The  next  section  is  devoted  to  splints,  padded  in  various  materials, 
and  to  different  baskets  and  bags  used  by  nurses.  The  first  to  attract 
attention  is  Mrs.  Fen  wick's  ward  basket,  which  is  stocked  with  every- 
thing in  daily  use  by  nurses,  and  the  wonder  is  how  so  much  can  be 
packed  in  so  small  a  space.  Nothing  is  lacking.  There  is  the  box- 
wood powder  box,  the  bottle  for  rectified  spirits  incased  in  boxwood, 
brush,  comb,  nail  brush,  tooth  brush,  whist  broom,  and  duster.  The 
bag  used  by  the  Queen  Victoria  jubilee  nurses  in  their  work  among  the 
poor  is  also  on  exhibition  and  is  like  the  ward  basket,  very  complete  in 
appointments,  containing  nearly  one  hundred  articles.  This  is  of  oil 
silk,  but  instead  of  toilet  articles,  it  contains  necessary  articles  for  the 
sick,  antiseptics,  etc.,  and  is  in  constant  use  by  the  nurses  who  find  it  not 
only  a  convenience  but  a  necessity. 

Suffering  Children. 

A  pitiful  section  is  that  in  which  doll  models  are  used  to  depict 
children  in  all  stages  of  suffering.  Here  a  maternity  nurse  in  pure 
white  holds  in  her  motherly  arms  an  infant  in  long  robes.  On  a  steel 
tent  bedstead  lies  a  little  one  who  has  undergone  the  operation  of 
tracheotomy.  Beside  the  bed  stands  the  steel  steamer  which  furnishes 
the  warm  air  she  breathes  through  the  tube  in  her  throat.  On  another 
bed  is  a  little  girl  under  three  years  of  age  slung  for  fracture  of  femur, 
for  vertical  extension.  Special  clothing  incases  the  little  limbs  and 
flannel  covers  the  chest.  There  is,  too,  the  model  of  a  child  suffering 
with  hip  disease,  limbs  extended  by  means  of  the  Bryant  splint,  and  the 
same  child  convalescent  and  lying  on  a  flat  couch,  clothed  in  flannel. 
Another  little  one  in  long,  woolen  garments  is  in  the  arms  of  the  nurse, 
all  ready  for  an  operation 

This  exhibit  of  nurses  and  patients  was  designed  and  prepared  by  Sis- 
ter Marion  Riembolt,  of  the  London  Homeopathic  hospital,  and  attracts 
much  attention  from  those  who  are  interested  in  the  care  of  the  sick. 

Caps  Worn   by  Nurses. 

In  a  case  comprising  another  section  are  specimens  of  the  lace  caps 
worn  by  English  nurses,  including  those  worn  by  Sister  Dora  when 
alive,  by  Mrs.  Fenwick,  and  by  Miss  Nightingale.  Here,  too,  are 
bandages  of  all  kinds,  for  the  jaw,  nose,  eyes,  knees,  abdomen,  and 
breast,  of  the  best  materials,  either  of  flannel,  swansdown,  muslin,  or 
flannelette,  with  surgical  glass  appliances,  glassware  being  for  many 
reasons  considered  best  for  such  purpose. 


WOMAN'S  BUILDING.  331 

Hospital  Nurses. 

The  brass  bed  and  cot,  which  stand  to  the  right  of  the  door  on  enter- 
ing, is  especially  designed  for  hospital  work,  and  is  high  enough  from 
the  floor  to  enable  sweeping  to  be  done  without  moving  it.  It  is  fur- 
nished with  a  spring  mattress  curved  two  inches,  and  with  another  mat- 
tress of  hair,  both  covered  with  linen.  The  bedding  is  of  the  lightest 
description — linen  and  lace.  The  cot  is  furnished  entirely  in  wool,  the 
sheets  being  of  fine  merino.  Both  beds  have  invalid  tables  attached. 

In  the  centre  of  the  room  is  a  case  in  which  are  models  of  nurses 
from  all  the  leading  hospitals  of  London.  Very  pretty  nurses,  too,  the 
majority,  with  flaxen  hair  and  great  blue  eyes  ;  "  but/'  whispered  a 
young  Englishman  in  the  room,  "  the  nurses  themselves  are  much  pret- 
tier than  the  models." 

Sweetest  of  all,  because  quaintest  of  all,  are  the  native  Indian  nurses 
who  are  in  hospitals  in  Cairo  and  Bombay.  In  Cairo  is  the  Arab  nurse 
in  blue-striped  gown,  white  apron,  and  native  headdress.  Nurse  Amina, 
in  the  Gama  hospital,  Bombay,  is  in  pink  trousers,  with  overdress  of 
white  and  white  headdress. 

The  Hindoo  nurse,  Radahai,  in  holiday  attire,  stands  resplendent  in 
robe  of  changeable  green  silk  with  golden  bordering,  while  next  to  her 
stands  the  Nurse  Dosabar  in  blue  and  silver.  Another  Hindoo  nurse 
is  in  holiday  garb  of  crimson  and  gold  with  gayly  flowered  vest.  Nurse 
Premabai  is  in  blue  and  ecru,  while  marshaling  her  line  stands  English 
Sister  Mary  in  white,  with  bow  of  blue  at  the  neck,  her  blonde  hair  half 
covered  with  lace,  a  charming  contrast  to  her  black-browed  assistants. 

The  Isabella  Souvenir  Coins. 

Congress  granted  to  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers  40,000  souvenir 
silver  quarters  to  be  sold  at  a  premium.  These  coins  are  of  peculiar 
interest  for  many  reasons.  In  some  respects  the  Isabella  quarter  is  a 
much  greater  novelty  than  the  Columbian  half-dollar,  as  the  coins 
bearing  the  Spanish  Queen's  portrait  are  much  more  limited  in  number. 

The  coin  itself  is  a  work  of  art.  The  same  care  and  painstaking 
attention  is  devoted  to  this  issue  as  succeeded  in  making  the  Columbian 
souvenir  coins  such  marvels  of  the  minting  art.  The  design  for  the 
women's  coin  was  prepared  by  Kenyon  Cox,  the  celebrated  illustrator, 
and  was  finished  with  all  the  artistic  beauty  for  which  his  work  is  fa- 
mous. The  obverse  side  bears  the  portrait  of  Queen  Isabella  of  Spain. 

One  of  the  special  features  of  the  new  coin  is  that  it  is  the  first  issued 
by  this  Government  to  bear  the  portrait  of  a  woman.  Other  coins  bear 


332 


WOMAN'S   BUILDING. 


idealized  representations  of  the  fair  sex,  but  this  is  the  first  to  be  hon- 
ored by  an  authentic  reproduction  of  a  particular  feminine  face.  The 
coin  is  intended  by  the  National 
Government  to  commemorate  two 
important  events.  The  aid  given 
by  Queen  Isabella  to  Columbus 
which  enabled  him  to  make  the 
voyage  of  discovery  to  America ; 
and  the  other  is  the  first  special 
provision  made  by  the  United  States 
Government  for  the  adequate  par- 
ticipation of  women  in  an  enterprise 
of  worldwide  importance.  Apart 
from  the  general  interest  imparted 
to  the  coins  by  national  legislation 
and  historic  associations  their  mar-TH£  SOUVENIR  QUARTER  OF  A  DOLLAR. 
ket  value  is  augmented  by  the  fact 

that  every  coin-collector  in  the  world  must  have  one.  This  souvenir  of 
the  Exposition  is  highly  prized  by  all  who  are  fortunate  enough  to 
obtain  it. 

Paper  Exhibit  in  Woman's  Building. 

A  very  unique  exhibit  in  the  Woman's  Building  is  that  of  tissue 
paper.  The  pagoda  containing  it  is  draped  in  crape  paper,  and  along 
the  edges  are  laid  bunches  of  violets  in  natural  colors.  The  exhibit 
consists  of  everything  one  can  imagine  in  the  line  of  paper  work,  and  a 
great  many  things  never  dreamed  of.  There  are  beautiful  mats  and 
ornaments  in  crochet  sun-hats,  with  ribbons  and  flowers  perfectly  simu- 
lated ;  baskets  of  azalias,  nasturtiums,  roses,  morning  glories,  indeed 
every  flower  that  grows  ;  lamp  shades  in  infinite  variety,  picture  frames, 
calendars,  things  useful  and  things  ornamental.  The  posts  are  twined 
in  flowering  vines  and  at  all  times  it  is  hard  to  approach  the  pagoda,  so 
much  attention  does  it  attract. 

A  unique  and  valuable  piece  of  workmanship,  a  feather  cloak.  The 
cloak  is  made  of  feathers  of  prairie  chickens  and  is  of  circular  length, 
lined  with  mode  shade  of  satin.  The  cloak  was  made  by  a  Dakota 
woman,  who  spent  ten  years  in  collecting  the  material.  An  idea  of  the 
work  can  be  gleaned  from  the  fact  that  the  feathers  are  of  varied  tints 
and  only  three  or  four  were  found  on  each  bird.  The  feathers  are  held 
in  place  by  stitches.  The  cloak  has  a  beaver  collar  and  its  estimated 
value  is  $1,000. 


WOMAN'S  BUILDING.  333 

One  of  the  most  beautifully  designed  pieces  of  workmanship,  the  silver 
candelabrum  contributed  by  the  Omaha  Smelting  Company  and  made 
in  their  smelting  works.  The  designer  of  the  candelabrum  and  pedestal 
was  Mrs.  Anna  F.  Cameron,  of  Chester,  Neb.  The  bas  relief  is 
typical  of  the  great  corn  belt  of  the  country.  The  base  is  a  section  of 
a  cylinder,  with  a  diverging  line  running  toward  the  centre,  which  forms 
a  perfect  frustrum  of  a  cone.  From  the  column  and  from  the  apparent 
burner  stand  eight  ears  of  corn  with  husks  falling.  The  arms  curve 
down  and  extend  about  13^  inches,  with  an  electric  candle  standing  in 
a  fine  cast  husk.  From  the  inlet  fitting  of  the  arm  is  a  cast  scroll,  out 
of  which  springs  another  ear  of  corn.  The  second  tier  of  arms  is 
entirely  different  in  curve,  but  similarly  treated  in  relief.  At  a  con- 
venient place  in  the  base  is  placed  an  electric  switch  to  operate  the 
lighting  of  the  candelabrum.  The  cost  is  $1,000.  Its  entire  height  is 
fifty-two  inches,  diameter  of  base  nine  inches,  spread  of  lower  tier  thirty 
inches,  second  tier  twenty  inches,  and  last  tier  ten  inches. 

A  Gold  Wire  for  a  Bow-string. 

Among  the  novel  decorations  which  ornament  the  Woman's  Building 
is  the  contribution  of  the  ladies  of  Silver  Bow  County,  Mont.  This 
consists  of  a  shield  made  of  ores  and  precious  stones.  The  shield  is 
forty-eight  inches  long  by  thirty-six  inches  wide.  Its  foundation  is  of 
solid  copper.  It  is  surmounted  by  a  border  two  inches  wide,  of  gold, 
silver  and  copper,  with  the  state  flower,  the  bitter  root,  interwoven. 
Diagonally  across  the  shield  is  a  silver  bow  forty-two  inches  long  and 
an  inch  and  a  half  in  diameter  at  the  thickest  point,  with  a  gold  wire 
for  a  bow  string.  The  bow  is  fastened  to  the  shield  with  silver  nails 
having  jeweled  heads,  and  both  ends  of  the  bow  are  decorated  with 
Montana  rubies  and  sapphires.  Just  below  the  bow  are  two  raised 
medallions  of  copper  and  silver,  each  twelve  inches  in  diameter.  One 
of  these  shows  a  placer  scene,  the  other  the  interior  of  a  -quartz 
mine.  Below  these  appear  a  double  team  of  horses  hauling  a  load 
of  ore. 

Illinois  has  an  exhibit  in  the  Woman's  Building  which  tends  to 
popularize  the  use  of  corn  as  a  staple  of  food.  The  model  corn  kitchen 
occupies  the  large  room  adjoining  the  assembly  room,  opening  from  the 
balcony  on  the  north  side  of  the  building.  In  the  south  end  of  the 
room  a  raised  platform,  covered  with  white  tiling,  has  been  erected,  and 
a  model  kitchen  is  represented,  in  charge  of  Mrs.  Sarah  T.  Rorer,  prin- 
cipal of  the  Philadelphia  cooking  school.  In  one  corner  is  the  gas  stove 
and  on  the  front  of  the  platform  is  an  improved  kitchen  table,  invented 


334 


WOMAN'S   BUILDING. 


by  a  woman,  in  which  apartments  are  made  for  all  necessary  utensils. 
In  the  rear  of  the  platform  is  the  range  and  refrigerator.  Above  the 
tiling  on  the  wall  is  placed  a  corn  panel  three  feet  in  width,  containing 
the  different  varieties  of  corn. 

Congress  of  Women. 

A  World's  Congress  of  Women  was  arranged  for  in  May  and  was  a 
very  successful  affair.     Ten  thousand  women  swarmed  through  the  halls 


MEETING    AT   THE   OPENING    OF   THE    WOMAN'S   CONGRESS. 

and  corridors  of  the  memorial  art  palace  on  the  lake  front.  The  shrines 
of  education  and  reform  were  so  densely  crowded  that  in  every  nook 
within  the  great  building  some  kind  of  congress  or  conference  was  hold- 
ing a  session. 

The  main  corridor  was  filled  from  morning  till  late  at  night  with 


WOMAN'S  BUILDING.  335 

women  of  all  ages,  heights  and  evidences  of  learning,  some  with  eye- 
glasses and  some  without,  some  full  of  business  and  some  seeming  not 
to  care  whether  woman's  rights  were  gained  or  lost,  talking  in  groups, 
resting  on  convenient  ledges  or  reading  Secretary  Young'a  announce- 
ments. 

The  session  which  lasted  several  days  was  occupied  with  speeches  by 
all  the  leading  women  of  this  and  other  countries,  who  eloquently  ex- 
pressed their  views  on  the  great  questions  of  the  day.  It  was  agreed  by 
all  present  that  great  practical  benefit  was  derived  from  this  full  inter- 
change of  views. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
United  States  Government  Building. 

OUR  Government  exhibit  was    one  of  the  best;  comprising 
a  multitude  of  rare    and    valuable    exhibits ;    in  short,  it 
was  nothing  less  than  a  great   national  school  in  which 
thousands  of  object  lessons  gave  visitors  an  insight  into 
the  methods  of  administering  the  various  departments  at  Washington. 
Even  people  who  thought  themselves  well  informed  on  the  functions  of 
the  Federal  administration  were  astonished  at  the  great  variety  of  mat- 
ters that  the  wonderful  old  gentleman  Uncle  Sam  attends  to. 

This  building  occupied  an  area  of  three  acres  and  about  a  third. 
Perhaps  the  most  striking  thing  he  did  was  to  have  his  collections  and 
specimens  installed  in  time.  He  was  not  of  that  large  number  of  ex- 
hibitors who  appeared  to  think  the  Fair  would  wait  for  them. 

Under  a  central  dome,  the  interior  of  which  was  painted  with  panels 
scrolls  and  all  sorts  of  elaborate  devices,  was  a  part  of  the  trunk  of  one 
of  our  huge  American  trees  that  grow  so  enormous  in  the  lands  washed 
by  the  Pacific.  This  tree  was  big  enough  to  hold  a  public  meeting  in. 
A  staircase  ran  through  the  centre,  so  that  those  who  wanted  to  get  on 
top  did  not  have  to  put  climbers  on  their  heels.  This  tree  was  the  pivo- 
tal point  round  which  the  Government's  display  was  grouped. 

Entering  the  building  from  the  lake  front  the  pilgrim  had  to  pass  a 
lot  of  immense  guns  that  were  trained  on  the  lake  and  in  the  direction 
of  the  brick  battle  ship  Illinois,  whose  own  artillery  could  be  brought  to 
bear  upon  the  Government  Building.  Having  scared  the  foreigners  for 
a  moment  with  this  display  of  force,  he  soon  found  out  that  it  was  a 
peaceable  nation  he  had  to  deal  with,  and  that  the  arts  of  peace  are 
more  to  our  taste,  if  the  exhibits  speak  the  truth,  than  those  of  war. 

There  were  prepared  displays  of  selected  cereals,  tobacco  and  vege- 
table fibres.  The  exhibit  showed  the  geographical  distribution  of  plants 
and  vegetables  and  told  folks  what  they  ought  to  raise.  The  system  of 
quarantine  stations,  the  processes  of  meat  inspection  and  what  the  in- 
spectors find  that  the  meat  proprietors  don't  want  them  to  inspect,  the 
arrangements  for  transporting  live  stock  and  meat  and  apparatus  for 
handling  them,  extending  all  the  way  from  a  model  refrigerator  car  to  a 
knife  and  fork,  were  displayed. 
336 


UNITED   STATES   GOVERNMENT   BUILDING.  337 

The  art  of  horseshoeing  was  taught  with  object  lessons  showing  the 
disease  caused  by  bad  work  of  the  blacksmith.  The  department  applied 
itself  to  the  study  of  the  diseases  of  animals  and  the  Bacteriological 
Bureau  has  captured,  cured  and  otherwise  preserved  enough  germs  to 
start  more  epedimics  than  agriculturists  will  ever  need.  The  entomolo- 
gical division  had  a  collection  of  insects  and  models  of  insects  injurious 
and  beneficial  to  the  planter.  Worms  and  other  specimens  of  their 
work  on  an  enlarged  scale  were  there,  and  all  the  larvae  and  bugs 
that  the  farmer  is  glad  to  see  somewhere  else  than  on  his  own  crops. 
The  machines  and  poisons  for  obliterating  these  pests  were  exhibited, 
and  the  ruralist  went  forth  better  prepared  than  ever  before  to  wage  war. 
If  any  farmer  wants  to  breed  these  things  he  could  see  how  the  ento- 
mologists do  it.  They  have  to  study  this  in  order  to  learn  what  con- 
ditions to  avoid. 

Among  the  Stuffed  Exhibits. 

Mammals  and  birds  of  America  were  on  view,  beautifully  stuffed  and 
prepared.  This  show  included  all  the  live  things  except  man  that  in- 
habit the  United  States.  Cows  and  horses  with  the  lifelike  expression 
of  their  faces  preserved  by  the  stuffer  confronted  the  visitor.  A  calf  of 
tender  years  suggested  stuffed  veal,  and  the  beautiful  turkey  was  there, 
well  filled,  no  doubt,  as  he  always  is  for  Thanksgiving. 

The  Death  Valley  region  was  exhibited  by  means  of  a  model.  The 
high  and  low  altitudes  of  this  locality  were  shown,  disclosing  not  only 
the  rock  and  earth  strata  but  the  life  zones  there. 

Flowers  and  plants,  some  of  them  growing,  others  preserved  or  dried, 
were  contributed  by  the  botanical  and  horticultural  divisions.  This  gave 
a  needed  tint  of  green  to  the  buildings.  In  the  chemistry  group  was  a 
complete  agricultural  laboratory.  It  contained  a  series  of  exhibits  de- 
monstrating the  means  by  which  food  adulteration  is  exposed,  the  value 
of  saccharine  plants  determined  and  the  analysis  of  soils  carried  on. 

Lovers  of  figures  found  consolation  in  a  large  and  varied  assortment 
of  maps  giving  statistics  on  the  values  of  agricultural  products  and  the 
range  of  prices  of  the  staples.  Material  was  here  from  which  the 
economist  could  argue  either  that  the  farmer  is  gradually  approaching 
ruin  or  is  accumulating  vast  wealth,  according  to  the  political  tenets  of 
the  arguer. 

Microscopes  enabled  the  scientific  grower  to  find  all  sorts  of  things  on 

vegetables  to  alarm  the  taxpayer  who  previously  ate  animalculae  with  a 

calm  ignorance  of  what  he  was  putting  inside  himself.     Fungi,  big  and 

little,  edible    and  poisonous,  that  subsist  on  trees   and  smaller  plant 

22 


338  UNITED   STATES   GOVERNMENT   BUILDING. 

growths  were  to  be  seen.  The  microscope  has  enabled  the  truth  seeker 
to  find  many  adulterations  of  butter  and  commercial  fats.  Altogether 
it  will  be  noticed  the  dairyman  is  pursued  relentlessly  by  the  Govern- 
ment. 

Sick  Plants  and  how  to  Cure  Them. 

Vegetable  pathology  had  a  section  to  itself  in  the  laboratory.  Trees 
get  sick  just  as  men  do  and  from  similar  causes.  Their  tissues  break 
down  from  lack  of  nourishment  and  there  are  always  a  lot  of  germs  fly- 
ing about  anxious  to  attack  the  inoffensive  potato.  Fruit  trees  are  very 
subject  to  illness  and  fungi  fasten  on  them  and  eat  into  their  substance 
like  cancers.  Instruments  have  been  invented  to  eradicate  the  fungi  and 
there  is  a  sort  of  antiseptic  treatment  to  prevent  their  return.  Plants 
take  medicines  as  human  beings  do. 

The  division  of  pomology  told  about  the  differentiation  of  fruit  trees 
due  to  transplanting,  and  showed  models  of  the  fruits  of  this  country. 
There  was  an  exhibition  of  edible  nuts  showing  how  they  grow.  California's 
walnuts  and  all  the  different  nuts  seen  often  only  on  the  dessert  table 
were  there.  The  proper  way  to  plant  and  cultivate  small  fruits  was  ex- 
plained. 

The  Government  has  a  lot  of  experiment  stations  at  which  all  sorts  of 
risks  are  taken  with  vegetable  life  that  the  conservative  farmer  would 
hesitate  about.  The  results  obtained  were  written  up  and  confided  to 
the  world.  Pictures  were  made  of  the  valuable  results.  All  the  docu- 
ments, with  the  methods  of  compiling  them,  were  here  collected. 

The  office  of  Irrigation  Inquiry  had  a  model  of  an  ideal  valley  watered 
artificially  with  canals  and  sluices.  Object  lessons,  maps  and  models 
showed  the  true  art  of  irrigation,  and  where  to  locate  the  artesian  well  and 
that  sort  of  thing.  From  the  Smithsonian  Institute  were  groups  show- 
ing its  growth,  illustrations  of  the  progress  of  American  science  and  ex- 
ploration and  portraits  of  eminent  scientists.  The  fruits  of  its  investiga- 
tions were  found  throughout  the  Government  Building. 

More  interesting  to  most  people  than  the  agricultural  items  were 
those  that  came  from  the  National  Museum  at  Washington,  all  of  them 
having  been  carefully  packed  and  installed  so  that  they  could  be  seen  to 
the  best  advantage.  These  were  the  skeletons  of  the  large  quadrupeds 
that  are  gradually  becoming  extinct.  The  life  history  of  the  fur  seal 
was  made  comprehensible  by  the  animals  themselves  at  various  stages 
of  development.  Birds  of  every  species,  from  the  eider  duck  to  the 
English  sparrow,  were  represented  by  their  skins  or  the  entire  article 
filled  with  cotton.  Snakes  and  other  reptiles  made  of  plaster,  vied  with 
each  other  for  the  palm  of  ugliness. 


UNITED   STATES   GOVERNMENT  BUILDING.  339 

Whale  Boats  and  Fishing  Implements. 

Glass  cases  contained  examples  of  methods  and  implements  of  the 
chase.  Apart  from  the  showing  of  the  United  States  Fish  Commission, 
which  was  largely  in  the  Fisheries  Building,  methods  of  catching  fish 
were  set  forth  with  the  Government  exhibit.  Suspended  from  one  of 
the  galleries  was  the  topmast  of  a  whaling  ship,  with  a  man  on  the  cross- 
trees  looking  out  for  spouters.  On  either  side  of  him  were  models  of 
the  front  parts  of  two  whaleboats,  with  a  life  size  man  in  the  act  of  shoot- 
ing the  harpoon. 

Boats  with  wooden  fishermen  in  them  were  found  on  the  floor.  Un- 
der certain  lights  they  had  an  uncanny  air,  suggesting  dead  men  or 
stuffed  human  beings.  There  were  fish  hooks  and  flies,  in  the  contem- 
plation of  which  fishing  enthusiasts  might  become  thoroughly  lost  to  the 
world  for  hours  at  a  time.  The  iron  and  bone  harpoon  points  of  the 
Aleuts,  similar  to  those  used  by  the  Greenland  Esquimaux,  very  ad- 
vanced weapons  for  savages,  were  collected  in  all  their  varieties.  Bows 
and  arrows  of  the  redskins  and  the  traps  and  pitfalls  and  snares  that 
they  used  were  there  in  profusion. 

The  National  Museum  sent  also  models  showing  volcanoes,  earth- 
quakes and  glaciers  and  the  constructive  and  destructive  effects  of  water. 
These  are  so  arranged  that  they  are  readily  understood. 

A  Miniature  United  States. 

The  Treasury  Department  sent  a  large  number  of  interesting  exhibits. 
From  the  Coast  and  Geodetic  Survey  was  a  relief  map  of  the  United 
States  twenty-five  feet  square,  showing  the  operations  of  the  survey,  in- 
cluding the  great  trans-continental  system  of  triangulation,  the  trans- 
continental line  of  precise  leveling,  the  location  of  magnetic  stations  and 
of  astronomical  gravitation  and  the  area  covered  by  topographical  sur- 
veys. Instruments  for  finding  latitude  and  longitude,  views  and  mod- 
els of  the  coast  pendulum  apparatus,  sounding  machines,  current  me- 
ters, tide  gauges,  tide  predicting  machines  and  a  model  of  a  Coast  Sur- 
vey steamer  fully  equipped  with  all  the  deep  sea  apparatus  were  shown 
by  the  Coast  Survey  people. 

In  the  Treasury  Building  at  Washington  are  kept  the  standard  weights 
and  measures  of  the  country.  When  a  butcher  insists  that  the  piece  of 
meat  he  cuts  off  for  you  is  two  pounds  and  a  quarter  and  charges  you 
for  that  much,  which  you  refuse  to  pay,  the  matter  can  be  settled  finally 
in  the  District  of  Columbia.  A  standard  yard  measure  which  is  exactly 
a  yard  long  at  such  and  such  a  temperature,  as  defined  by  law,  was  on 


340  UNITED   STATES   GOVERNMENT   BUILDING. 

view.  The  Government  had  models  of  the  standard  meter  and  kilo- 
gram, the  legal  weights  and  measures  of  France. 

A  complete  set  of  revenue  stamps  was  shown  by  the  Bureau  of  Inter- 
nal Revenue.  They  also  sent  a  set  of  all  the  testing  and  gauging  instru- 
ments with  which  they  determine  the  strength  of  wines  and  spirits. 
They  have  a  chemical  laboratory  in  which  fats  are  tested  and  oleomar- 
garine, and  sugar  is  examined  with  a  polariscope  to  find  out  its  relative 
sweetness.  On  this  depends  the  amount  of  sugar  bounty  paid  by  the 
Government  to  the  grower,  and  of  course  the  test  is  of  a  most  delicate 
and  precise  character. 

The  printing  of  greenbacks  and  bank  notes  was  shown  by  very  beau- 
tiful examples  furnished  by  the  Bureau  of  Engraving  and  Printing. 
Even  the  poorest  citizen  is  allowed  to  see  how  a  piece  of  blank  paper 
becomes  a  hundred  dollar  bill.  Specimens  were  here  of  the  fine  en- 
graved portrait  and  vignette  work  of  the  bureau,  and  samples  of  all  the 
government  bonds  and  securities  ever  issued. 

Improved  Engraving. 

A  great  improvement  is  observable  in  the  style  and  quality  of  the 
engraving  and  printing.  The  visitor  could  follow  the  engravers  from  the 
time  the  Government  first  existed  until  their  latest  productions.  There 
was  great  care  taken,  of  course,  to  prevent  art  collectors  from  grabbing 
the  paper  money  and  bonds  and  running  away  with  them.  This  build- 
ing was  guarded  most  vigorously  from  invaders  and  burglars. 

Similar  in  character  was  the  showing  of  the  Register  of  the  Treasury, 
whose  evidences  of  wealth  did  not  consist  of  headlight  diamonds,  but 
of  bonds  and  articles  of  that  sort.  He  showed  specimens  of  all  the 
notes,  fractional  currency,  coupons  and  other  evidences  of  debt  ever  is- 
sued by  the  United  States.  All  the  public  debt  warrants  and  drafts 
were  there,  not  in  fac-simile,  but  in  the  original.  Two  of  them,  aggre- 
gating $281,000,000  odd,  are  the  largest  ever  issued,  but  the  Govern- 
ment was  good  for  them. 

There  were  civil  appropriation  warrants  with  the  autographs  of  all 
the  Secretaries  of  the  Treasury  from  Hamilton  to  Carlisle,  and  the  pay 
warrants  and  drafts  issued  since  1822  and  bearing  the  autographs  of  all 
the  Presidents  since  that  time.  All  this  class  of  documents  dating  prior 
to  1822  were  destroyed  by  fire  in  1833.  This  fate  will  not  overtake 
those  that  remain  if  vigilance  counts  for  anything.  The  bond  issues  of 
the  United  States  were  of  interest  from  a  pictorial  as  well  as  from  a  fi- 
nancial point  of  view. 

In  the  monetary  line   also  was  a  display  by  the  United  States  Mint. 


UNITED   STATES   GOVERNMENT   BUILDING.  341 

There  were  dyes  and  presses  in  operation.  No  collection  can  be  made 
of  dies  that  are  out  of  date,  as  the  law  says  they  must  be  broken  up 
annually  to  prevent  them  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  parties  not 
qualified  under  the  statutes  to  make  use  of  them.  But  some  of  the 
results  of  the  mint  in  coins  and  medals  were  seen.  The  press  in  opera- 
tion produced  white  metal  medals.  It  is  not  often  that  the  United 
States  makes  coin  of  base  metal. 

The  Bureau  of  Statistics  had  an  array  of  charts  telling  the  increase 
of  the  nation's  population,  wealth  and  material  productions.  Perhaps  a 
greater  object  lesson  of  these  facts  than  any  map  was  the  World's  Fair 
itself,  which  is  the  crowning  marvel  of  four  hundred  years. 

A  Real  Lighthouse. 

Down  near  the  lake  front  was  the  collection  of  the  Lighthouse  Board. 
A  tall,  pipelike  lighthouse  stood  in  place  as  if  to  warn  the  battle  ship 
Illinois,  which  it  overlooked,  against  running  up  on  the  beach.  This 
lighthouse  was  of  interest  to  Gothamites,  because  after  the  Fair  is  over 
it  is  to  be  taken  down  and  reconstructed  at  the  Waackaack  station,  in 
New  York  Bay.  Here  were  to  be  seen  the  appliances  with  which  re- 
volving lights  are  revolved,  the  schemes  for  keeping  them  burning  and 
the  general  daily  routine  of  a  lighthouse  keeper. 

There  were  representations  also  of  the  lightships  on  which  such 
weary  vigil  is  kept  in  order  that  life  and  property  may  be  preserved. 
There  is  nothing  from  accurate  figures  to  stories  of  the  ghosts  that 
haunt  these  craft  and  tales  of  phantom  ships  that  could  not  be  learned 
right  there  at  the  Waackaack  Lighthouse. 

In  order  that  no  loss  of  life  should  occur  in  case  of  the  wreck  of  the 
brick  and  plaster  battle  ship  Illinois  the  Government  erected  a  real  life 
saving  station  on  the  bank  of  the  lagoon  and  near  the  camp  of  the  ma- 
rines. This  station  was  maintained  in  operation  exactly  as  if  there  were 
some  real  danger  somewhere,  though  of  course  there  may  have  been  a 
wreck  or  a  collision  on  the  lake  during  the  Fair.  It  was  equipped  with 
all  the  apparatus  used  at  a  life  saving  station,  with  the  boats,  furniture 
and  appliances.  The  crew  were  picked  men. 

They  gave  daily  exhibitions  with  their  boat  and  the  beach  apparatus, 
which  included  the  breeches  buoy  and  the  rocket  gear.  They  were 
dressed  like  the  tough  sea  dogs  that  they  are,  and  it  was  expected  of 
them  that  they  would  drop  none  of  their  nautical  mannerisms  but 
preserve  them  for  the  delight  of  the  visitor. 

The  exhibition  of  apparatus  was  complete.  It  showed  the  obsolete 
methods  of  reaching  a  wreck,  and  it  also  showed  the  progress  toward 


342  UNITED   STATES   GOVERNMENT   BUILDING. 

rescuing  life  from  the  beach,  instead  of  risking  more  lives  in  an  open 
boat  Statistics  of  the  lives  saved,  the  cost  and  all  that  sort  of  thing 
were  accessible,  and  there  are  models  of  ingeniously  contrived  boats. 

Post  Office  Exhibit. 

No  exhibit  was  in  the  building  that  came  closer  to  the  everyday  citi- 
zen than  that  of  the  Post  Office  Department.  It  established  a  regular 
postal  station  from  which  mail  matter  was  distributed,  and  it  was  ar- 
ranged in  such  a  way  that  a  visitor  could  post  a  letter  addressed  to  New 
York  and  follow  it  all  the  way  through,  seeing  the  stamp  cancelled  and 
the  letter  sorted,  until  finally  it  was  put  in  a  mail  bag.  The  machines 
for  cancelling  stamps  were  there,  the  sorting  arrangement  and  boxes 
and  the  batteries  of  mail  bags,  into  which  the  clerks  hurled  the  mail 
with  wonderful  dexterity. 

Behind  the  partitioned  off  space  in  which  these  things  occurred  was  a 
genuine  postal  car  of  the  most  approved  type,  recently  built.  There 
were  displayed  all  the  accessories  of  the  railway  mail  service  and  the 
arrangement  for  taking  up  and  dropping  mail  bags  while  the  train  is 
going  at  full  speed. 

By  the  request  of  the  Postmaster  General  issued  in  1891,  postmasters 
everywhere  collected  relics  and  curiosities  of  the  service.  Hardly  a 
stamp  in  the  whole  category  of  the  bits  of  paper  which  the  nations  have 
licked  and  put  in  a  corner  all  these  years  past  was  missing  from  the  col- 
lection. Then  there  were  other  postal  curios.  The  post-office  vaults 
were  disemboweled  of  their  musty  contents  to  make  an  exhibit.  The 
dead-letter  office,  with  all  its  aggregated  ingenuity  of  mistake,  was  pro- 
fusely illustrated,  as  likewise  the  process  of  expert  deciphering  the 
apparently  undecipherable.  There  were  some  strange  things  from  the 
Dead  Letter  Office,  such  as  queer  and  impossible  addresses,  and  remark- 
able objects  sent  by  mail  to  no  one  in  particular  that  eventually  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Government. 

Postage  stamps,  stamped  envelopes  and  postal  cards  of  every  device 
were  there  for  the  delight  of  stamp  collectors,  some  of  them  illustrating 
peculiarities  of  the  service  abroad.  Post  office  order  and  registration 
schemes  were  displayed,  and  improved  mail  chutes,  mail  wagons  and  the 
devices  for  the  electric  transportation  of  mail  matter. 

From  the  Department  of  Justice  were  many  historical  documents, 
from  the  Bureau  of  Education  publications  of  all  sorts  and  reports  which, 
of  course,  no  one  read.  Everything  of  interest  to  the  general  public 
was  placed  within  easy  access  to  the  throng  of  sightseers. 


UNITED   STATES   GOVERNMENT   BUILDING.  343 

Very  Tame  Redskins. 

The  Indian  boarding  school  shown  by  the  Government  was  located 
near  the  Convent  of  La  Rabida  in  a  separate  house.  It  was  really  a  part 
of  Professor  Putnam's  ethnological  display.  Teachers  and  pupils,  both 
boys  and  girls,  lived  in  this  building  and  showed  what  a  tame  and 
educated  Indian  is  like,  compared  with  the  wild  ones  that  could  be  found 
in  different  parts  of  Jackson  Park. 

Undistracted  by  the  hubbub  of  the  Fair,  showing  their  famous  stolidity 
in  that,  these  little  redskins  read,  wrote,  sewed,  cooked,  and  worked  at 
their  trades.  Having  seized  their  land  the  Government  teaches  them  to 
make  boots  and  shoes  for  the  white  men  and  be  carpenters,  blacksmiths 
and  tailors.  After  they  had  done  their  work  they  were  to  be  seen  at 
their  amusement. 

From  the  Patent  Office  came  a  series  of  models  showing  inventions 
and  improvements  on  inventions.  The  different  stages  through  which 
the  locomotive  has  passed  were  brought  out,  for  instance.  These  models 
were  for  the  amusement  of  the  public  eye.  To  inventors  and  those  who 
steadfastly  believe  themselves  to  be  inventors,  were  explained  the  require- 
ments, methods  and  processes  of  the  Patent  Office.  Maps  and  plates 
showing'  the  location  of  all  public  lands  and  the  character  of  their  pro- 
ducts were  arranged  by  the  General  Land  Office. 

The  machinery  with  which  the  Census  Office  has  done  such  remark- 
able work  was  there.  Operatives  skilled  in  getting  up  the  census  were 
at  work,  and  there  were  prominently  displayed  big  charts  containing  a 
synopsis  of  the  answers  to  the  impertinent  questions  asked  by  the 
Government  in  1890. 

Alaskans  Learn  to  Spell. 

The  resources  and  development  of  Alaska  were  shown  by  the  Interior 
Department.  Photographs  were  there  proving  how  less  picturesque  but 
how  much  cleaner  the  Aleuts  were  after  the  Interior  Department  worked 
for  awhile  on  their  exteriors ;  pictures  of  schoolhouses  and  groups  of 
pupils ;  specimens  of  their  copybook  work  showing  that  they  write 
"  Honesty  is  the  best  policy  "  and  "  Do  not  ill  treat  your  old  mother  " 
about  as  well  as  white  children  of  the  same  age.  Memoranda  about  the 
introduction  of  domesticated  reindeer  into  Alaska  and  a  fine  reindeer 
skin,  showing  that  the  natives  soon  found  out  that  the  animal  could  be 
made  use  of  even  without  his  pelt  were  exhibited. 

The  documentary  history  of  the  United  States  and  its  diplomatic 
history  were  illustrated  by  the  State  Department's  collection  of  treaties. 
It  was  hoped  that  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  other  original 


344  UNITED    STATES   GOVERNMENT   BUILDING. 

Revolutionary  documents  would  be  shown,  but  they  could  not  be 
secured.  They  were  too  precious  to  be  transported  from  place  to  place 
subject  to  the  risk  of  loss  by  fire,  explosion  or  collision.  Maps  and 
reports  of  bureaus,  models  of  its  bridge  equipage,  torpedo  cases  and 
connections,  such  plans  of  batteries  as  are  not  considered  secret,  models 
of  forts  and  river  and  harbor  improvements  were  forwarded  by  the  War 
Department  Bureau  of  Engineers.  This  showed  the  earthworks,  mines 
and  trenches  that  the  engineers  lay  out  in  times  of  war,  both  for  taking 
and  defending  positions.  Portable  bridges  can  be  thrown  across  rivers  in  a 
very  short  time  and  railways  can  be  laid  for  the  transportation  of  soldiers. 
How  forts  and  buildings  are  blown  up,  was,  of  course,  illustrated. 

The  Ordnance  Department  has  made  a  splendid  display  of  guns, 
mortars  and  machinery.  A  machine  for  making  metallic  ammunition  is 
seen  in  actual  operation  and  machines  for  making  the  improved  Spring- 
field rifle.  Historical  collections  of  small  arms  show. the  remarkable 
repeating  rifles  and  revolvers  that  have  been  invented  from  time  to  time. 
Some  of  them  are  two  and  four  barrelled,  and  one  repeating  rifle  has  a 
big  chamber  six  inches  in  diameter,  like  that  of  a  revolver,  but  absurdly 
large.  There  are  combinations  of  the  revolver  and  tne  magazine  sys- 
tem. In  fact  the  whole  history  of  firearms  is  shown  from  the  days  of 
the  flintlock,  and  there  are  adaptations  of  the  arm  made  by  savage 
races. 

Big  Government  Guns. 

All  the  rapid  fire  and  machine  guns  used  in  the  army  are  displayed, 
and  the  methods  for  taking  ranges,  devices  for  firing  high  explosives 
from  guns  and  a  pneumatic  dynamite  gun.  Methods  of  testing  guns 
are  shown  at  work  and  the  way  of  constructing  what  is  called  a  "  built- 
up  "  gun.  Lay  figures,  mounted  and  dismounted,  are  exhibited  by  the 
Quartermaster's  Department  to  show  the  uniforms  used  in  the  service. 
Major  generals,  brigadier  generals,  colonels,  majors,  captains,  lieuten- 
ants and  privates  and  all  the  intermediary  ranks  are  shown.  The  uni- 
forms are  brand  new  and  the  gold  lace  shines  splendidly.  All  the  fig- 
ures lack  to  be  an  exact  representation  of  our  army  is  intelligence. 

The  Quartermaster  -General  shows  a  complete  set  of  national  colors, 
standards  and  guidons,  the  standard  supplies  of  his  department  and  the 
methods  of  transporting  troops.  He  has  also  a  model  of  a  military  post 
and  of  a  quartermaster's  depot.  Very  fittingly  after  all  this  lot  of  death 
dealing  implements  there  comes  a  model  of  a  national  cemetery,  built  to 
contain  soldiers.  This  is  eminently  appropriate.  From  the  medical 
service  department  are  complete  sets  of  hospital  supplies,  articles  fur- 


UNITED   STATES   GOVERNMENT   BUILDING. 


345 


nished  for  use  on  scouting  expeditions,  record  books,  implements  for  the 
transport  of  the  sick  and  wounded,  models  and  plans  of  military  hospi- 
tals, the  microscopical  work  of  the  Army  Medical  Museum  and  anatom- 
ical preparations  of  normal  and  abnormal  crania.  There  are  craniome- 
trical  or  head  measuring  instruments  for  the  use  of  the  army.  They  are 
made  saihat  they  stretch  out  very  large. 

From  the  Signal  Corps  is  a  good  exhibit  of  what  that  branch  of  the 
army  can  do  in  signalling.     Part  of  the  collection  is  historical,  giving 


BAND    CONCERT    ON    ADMINISTRATION    PLAZA. 

the  development  of  the  department.  There  are  telegraph  lines,  a  field 
balloon  kit,  a  signal  station,  a  captive  balloon  train  and  an  artistic  centre- 
piece showing  that  the  Stars  and  Stripes  have  been  further  north  than 
the  flag  of  any  other  country,  having  been  taken  to  the  highest  point  by 
Lockwood  and  Brainard,  of  the  Greely  meterorological  expedition. 

The  Observation  Balloon. 

Gaping  multitudes  strain  their  eyes  to  heaven  in  search  of  the  exhibit 
of  the  war  department,  presented  by  the  signal  service.  Soaring  upward, 
but  confined  by  a  rope  from  the  fulfillment  of  its  aspirations,  a  captive 


346 


UNITED   STATES   GOVERNMENT   BUILDING. 


balloon  rises  2,000  feet  above  the  earth.  It  illustrates  a  feature  of  the 
wars  of  the  future,  the  diversion  of  the  newest  discoveries  of  science  to 
military  uses.  Seated  in  a  balloon  an  operator  telegraphs  over  a  wire 
running  through  the  confining  rope  the  result  of  his  observations  of  the 
enemy's  position. 

The  engineer  corps 
makes  a  fine  exhibit  of 
photographs  of  govern- 
ment works  in  various 
parts  of  the  United 
States.  Many  of  the 
pictures  have  been  en- 
larged to  good  size,  and 
occupy  conspicuous 
places.  In  addition  to 
these  twenty-eight  large 
transparencies  are  ar- 
ranged representing 
curtain  panels,  the  win- 
dows in  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  building 
being  devoted  to  the 
purpose.  Among  the 
transparencies  appear 
handsomely  colored 
views  of  some  of  the 
most  noteworthy  feats 
in  government  engi- 
neering, and  a  huge 
panoramic  view  of  Chi-  COLUMBIAN  GUARDS. 

cago    harbor   and   the 

government  works.  The  view  is  taken  from  the  site  of  the  United 
States  lighthouse,  and  covers  a  large  section.  The  famous  Washington 
aqueduct  system  is  shown  and  also  the  movable  dams  on  the  Ohio  River. 
In  proof  of  the  value  of  the  engineer  corps  to  the  government  and  the 
great  amount  of  public  improvements  which  have  been  made  since  river 
and  harbor  improvements  were  first  begun,  over  $225,000,000  have  been 
expended  under  the  direction  of  the  head  officer  of  the  engineer  corps 

Striking  Wax  Figures 
Believing  the  sight  the  easiest  channel  whereby  visitors  may  compre- 


UNITED   STATES   GOVERNMENT   BUILDING.  347 

hend  the  intricacies  of  war  maneuvers,  the  United  States  Government 
has  adopted  a  full  set  of  manikins  to  illustrate  the  War  Department 
exhibit.  These  figures  have  the  style  and  motion  of  the  Columbian 
Guards,  are  decidedly  more  polite  to  strangers,  and  carry  themselves 
with  the  same  nonchalant  air  that  is  peculiar  to  their  be-tinseled  con- 
temporaries. 

Visitors  to  the  military  part  of  the  government  are  likely  to  imagine 
at  first  glance  in  the  quartermaster's  department  that  a  group  of  officers 
is  before  them.  It  is  a  well-executed  lot  of  models  representing  General 
Schofield  and  staff  mounted  and,  of  course,  in  full  uniform.  In  the 
foreground  there  is  the  general  on  a  handsome  black  horse.  In  this 
model  the  artist  has  succeeded  in  securing  a  faithful  likeness  of  General 
Schofield,  the  head  being  a  wax  cast  from  life. 

Two  old  wagons  that  would  not  sell  for  $20  apiece  at  an  auction  sale 
out  on  a  farm,  are  shown  in  the  Quartermaster's  department.  These 
clumsy  old  vehicles  are  looked  on  with  fond  interest  by  every  visitor 
who  wears  the  tri-colored  button  of  the  Loyal  Legion  or  the  copper 
insignia  of  the  Grand  Army.  One  of  them  was  used  to  carry  Sher- 
man's personal  camp  equipage  on  the  march  to  the  sea  and  the  other 
performed  a  similar  service  for  General  Thomas  in  the  campaigns  led  by 
the  "  Rock  of  Chickamauga."  Sherman's  wagon  was  four  years  and 
nine  months  in  the  service,  and  on  the  rough  side  of  its  box  the  state- 
ment is  painted  that  in  that  time  it  traveled  4,160  miles. 

Quaint  Old  Fire  Buckets. 

Captain  John  F.  Rogers,  in  charge  of  the  Quartermaster  Department 
exhibit,  secured  four  fire  buckets  that  are  interesting  as  relics  of  ante- 
revolutionary  days.  They  were  made  for  the  volunteer  department  of 
Alexandria,  Va.  Two  of  them  are  dated  1/72,  one  1773,  and  the  fourth 
1775.  These  buckets  were  used  by  this  primitive  fire  department,  of 
which  George  Washington  was  a  leading  member,  and  for  a  century 
they  have  been  kept  as  souvenirs  by  the  descendants  of  the  Colonial 
boys  who  "  ran  wid  de  masheen." 

In  the  time  corresponding  to  the  dates  on  these  old-fashioned  leather 
fire  buckets  Alexandria  was  second  to  Williamsburg,  the  most  important 
city  of  Virginia  and  high  up  in  commercial  importance.  It  was  there 
that  the  tobacco  warehouses  were  located  and  there  also  that  goods  for 
the  Colonists  were  received  from  boats  that  came  up  the  Potomac.  It 
was  also  in  Alexandria  that  the  Fairfax  Seminary,  still  an  educational 
factor  in  Virginia,  was  located.  Down  the  river  were  the  estates  which 
Washington  acquired  by  his  marriage  with  Mrs.  Custis,  and  up  the  river 


348  UNITED    STATES   GOVERNMENT   BUILDING. 

was  the  estate  of  the  Lee  family.  The  fire  department  of  Alexandria 
in  those  days  was  an  institution  of  some  social  importance,  and  it  may 
have  been  useful,  though  the  quartet  of  century-old  souvenirs  of  the 
department  do  not  inspire  one  with  the  idea  that  they  were  ever  very 
effective  in  a  fight  against  fire. 

The  Model  Post  Office. 

Over  in  another  corner  of  the  building  Uncle  Sam  appears  in  a 
costume  of  gray  cloth  and  brass  buttons.  The  public  is  permitted  to 
flatten  its  nose  against  a  broad  sheet  of  plate  glass  while  gazing  its  fill 
upon  the  nimble-fingered  postal  clerk  as  he  sorts  the  Exposition  mail. 
Every  feature  of  a  model  post  office  is  on  view  in  the  exhibit,  and  it  is 
no  amateur,  miniature  affair,  for  the  World's  Fair  mail  is  of  vast  acreage 
and  it  is  handled  exclusively  in  the  United  States  Building.  Fifty  light- 
footed  letter  carriers  move  and  have  their  being  on  the  ground. 

Among  the  relics  is  a  veteran  mail  coach,  the  first  of  its  family  to 
cross  the  plains  far  back  in  the  '4O's,  the  last  survivor  of  the  old  Ben 
Holliday  line.  Beside  it  is  a  model  of  a  pony  express  and  rider,  the 
reproduction  of  a  means  of  transmission  that  antedates  even  the  hoary 

mail  coach. 

American-Grown  Tea. 

Enterprising  men  who  sit  at  home  at  ease  in  Washington  show  to  the 
farmer  new  avenues  to  fortune  as  the  res-ult  of  past  years  of  experiment. 
Millions  await  the  man  who  can  raise  tea,  and  Washington  men  invite 
all  comers  to  taste  of  decoctions  of  the  South  Carolina  tea  plant.  No 
longer  will  the  tea  merchant  be  compelled  to  depend  on  the  second- 
hand, cast-off  herb  of  the  mandarin  when  the  exhibition  has  gone  by. 
The  sunny  South  will  drive  the  Celestial  out  of  business. 

Silkworms  have  become  naturalized  citizens  of  the  United  States  and 
the  Exposition  is  here  to  prove  it.  On  hemp  and  jute  the  Washington 
men  of  experiments  have  spent  long  years,  and  they  give  the  results  of 
their  inquiry  to  the  world.  Here  alone  are  exhibits  that  may  trend 
toward  an  agricultural  revolution.  Eyes  that  start  in  their  sockets  at 
the  eventful  possibilities  in  those  glass  cases  are  restored  to  their  normal 
complacency  only  when  they  rest  upon  the  adjoining  display  of  corn  in 
the  ear  and  corn  in  the  seed.  Golden  grain  and  yellow  corn  are 
exhibited  as  a  goal  for  which  the  ordinary  hand-to-mouth  farmer  may 

strive. 

Then  there  are  other  products  of  the  earth.  Redolent  tobacco  leaves 
which  drop  from  the  beam  just  as  they  do  in  the  old  barn ;  model  dry- 
ing houses  for  tobacco,  with  all  modern  improvements  for  the  comfort 


UNITED   STATES   GOVERNMENT   BUILDING. 


349 


and  convenience  of  the  weed  that  renders  the  curtain  lecture  innocuous, 
are  shown  in  diminished  proportions.       Barns  of  dainty  make,  adorned 

to  resemble  the  little  red  school- 
house  of  history,  tempt  the  Kentuck- 
ian  and  the  Virginian  to  luxury  of 
housing  for  their  home-grown  leaf. 

The  Snowy  Cotton. 

For  the  Southerner,  as  a  remind- 
er of  his  home,  the  snowy  fiber  of 
the  cotton  has  a  case  all  to  itself,  and 
no  product  of  American  soil  lacks 
a  bounteous  recognition.  In  the 
grain  exhibit  the  ordainers  of  the 
Exposition  have  risen  to  the  posi- 
tion of  the  painter  and  decorator. 
Goodly  bundles  of  corn  depend 
from  the  wall,  and  in  the  centre  of  the 
floor  are  shown  the  arms  of  the  de- 
partment of  agriculture,  the  plow  and 
the  sheaf,  presented  in  no  heraldic 
emblazonment,  but  in  actuality.  A 
halo  of  romance  surrounds  the  plow 
used,  for  it  has  seen  many  generations  "  till  the  earth  lie  beneath." 
Born  in  Massachusetts  just  in  1740,  it  shows  a  sturdy  steel  edge  in  its 
old  age  that  a  younger,  more  flippant  generation  of  plows  might  well 
envy.  The  old  Colonial  relic  has  passed  into  the  possession  of  the  de- 
partment of  agriculture  and  is  among  its  most  treasured  relics. 

Birds  of  All  Feathers. 

From  the  fungus  the  exhibit  will  soar  to  the  ornithological  end  of 
creation.  Birds  that  swallow  worms  to  the  advantage  of  the  people's 
party,  and  birds  that  live  on  grain  to  the  same  party's  disadvantage, 
have  been  trailed  to  their  lairs.  Life-like  crows  extract  the  tender  green 
corn  plant  of  wax  from  a  rich  soil  of  papier-mache,  and  birds  that  hurt 
or  birds  that  help  will  be  shown  in  all  sorts  and  conditions.  There  will 
be  quadrupeds  beside  the  bipeds,  fur  as  well  as  feathers.  Animals  such 
as  delight  the  heart  of  the  farmer,  fat  kine  in  the  stall  symmetrical  in 
their  proportions  and  suggestive  of  the  county  fair,  will  be  presented  in 
miniature.  All  the  accompaniment  of  barn  and  shed,  shorthorn 
and  Jersey,  razor-back  and  Berkshire  will  be  visible  in  statuesque  re- 
production. 


EXHIBIT   OF   TOBACCO. 


350  UNITED   STATES   GOVERNMENT   BUILDING. 

Dr.  Ridgeway  of  the  national  museum  has  sent  a  panorama  of  stuffed 
birds  to  the  Government  Building.  The  doctor  has  chosen  for  his 
subjects  the  birds  of  curious  habits  and  appearance.  The  crocodile  bird 
is  represented  in  company  with  his  old  friend,  the  crocodile.  The 
saurian  is  lying  stretched  at  full  length  with  his  mouth  in  an  early  break- 
fast position.  On  his  back  are  three  of  the  birds,  while  inside  on  the 
crocodile's  tongue,  with  his  beak  and  eye  at  "  attention  "  is  another  of 
the  spindle-legged  exterminators  of  the  crocodile's  tormenting  parasites. 
In  another  group  are  the  bower  birds,  creatures  of  artistic  bent  and 
artisans  of  unusual  skill.  The  naturalists  say  that  the  bower  bird  will 
select  flowers  for  the  adornment  of  his  house  and  take  them  down  as 
soon  as  they  are  the  least  bit  faded,  gathering  fresh  garlands  to  replace 
the  faded  ones.  The  doctor  has  illustrated  the  home  life  of  these 
picturesque  birds  by  mounting  them  about  a  nest  of  their  own  con- 
struction. 

Altogether  different,  and  yet  quite  as  interesting  in  a  way,  is  a  group 
of  butcher  birds.  Their  forte  is  the  capture  and  preservation  of  grass- 
hoppers, beetles  and  birds  by  impaling  the  captives  on  the  most 
convenient  thorn.  The  group  in  the  museum  exhibit  is  shown  about 
its  nest  with  grasshoppers,  mice  and  a  small  bird  of  another  species 
impaled  on  the  thorns  of  a  bush  to  which  the  nest  is  attached.  Other 
specimens  of  interest  are  shown  in  groups  of  prairie  chickens  in  one  of 
their  fantastic  dances,  flamingoes  with  nests  of  mud,  parroquets  roosting 
inside  a  hollow  stump,  hanging  by  their  bills  after  their  own  unique 
custom,  and  a  group  of  wild  pigeons,  whose  fast-approaching  extinction 
makes  them  objects  of  interest.  The  whole  collection  is  shown  in  the 
large  section  of  the  Government  Building  devoted  to  the  Smithsonian 

Institute  display. 

Fishes  of  all  Degrees. 

Though  in  no  way  entering  into  competition  with  its  next-door  neigh- 
bor the  Fisheries  Building,  Uncle  Sam's  peculiar  property  will  have 
somewhat  to  say  about  the  finny  offspring  of  the  deep-  Pisciculture  is 
treated  fully  and  the  stocking  of  streams  with  spawn.  Fishes  such  as 
few  men  ever  saw,  born  and  bred  deeper  than  ever  plummet  sounded, 
are  shown  in  colored  models,  and  the  Washington  fisheries  department, 
which  is  on  all  hands  confessed  to  have  advanced  the  science  of  pisci- 
culture to  a  far  greater  extent  than  any  other  body  of  experts  shows  the 
whole  result  of  its  researches. 

Then  again  the  insect  kingdom  receives  its  meed  of  attention  from 
the  agriculturists.  Every  bug  and  beetle  and  buglet  and  mosquito  who 
visits  the  World's  Fair  will  see  a  member  of  his  family  glorified  in  death 


UNITED   STATES   GOVERNMENT   BUILDING.  351 

by  the  transfixion  of  a  pin  and  a  decasyllabic  Latin  name  inscribed  on  a 
card.  Representatives  of  the  sovereign  insects  from  every  state  in  the 
union  are  present  and  there  is  a  pan-American  congress  of  bugs  in 
addition,  for  the  southerly  portion  cf  the  hemisphere  is  found  on  hand 
in  bright-hued  butterflies  and  hideous  monstrosities  of  beetledom. 
Utilitarian  rather  than  artistic  are  the  depictions  of  the  abuses  of  insects 
following  hard  upon  their  uses. 

Philip  Walker  of  Washington,  who  presides  over  the  exhibit,  says  it 
is  vegetable  pathology.  He  attaches  the  same  name  to  the  plants  which 
suffer  from  the  encroachments  of  the  nimble  fungus.  The  fungus,  indeed, 
is  honored  with  a  division  all  to  itself.  The  trees  from  which  it  hangs 
odoriferous  are  reproduced  in  miniature  and  wax,  while  a  threefold  table 
is  devoted  solely  to  its  interests.  Thereon  is  shown  a  grassy  lawn, 
fungus  bestrewn,  and  attention  is  called  to  the  fact  that  whereas  the 
mushroom  aristocracy  of  the  fungus  tribe  is  edible  the  ordinary  rank 
and  file  produces  cholera  morbus. 

Forest  Culture. 

From  the  forestry  division  is  a  classified  collection  of  sections  of  forest 
trees ;  apparatus  for  testing  strength  and  other  qualities  of  timber  ; 
illustrations  of  methods  shown  by  experience  to  be  the  best  adapted  to 
forest  culture ;  metal  railway  ties  as  a  substitute  for  timber  and  whose 
adoption  would  serve  to  protect  our  forests  from  destruction. 

From  the  division  of  chemistry  is  a  complete  agricultural  laboratory 
in  which  are  demonstrations  of  food  adulteration ;  the  saccharine  value 
of  sugar  plants,  and  analysis  of  soil  is  carried  on  ;  samples  of  adulterated 
foods  which  have  been  tested  by  the  government  are  shown.  In  the 
division  of  statistics  charts  are  shown  illustrating  the  values  of  agricul- 
tural products,  the  range  of  prices,  and  distribution  of  staple  products, 
etc. 

Geological  Finds  Galore. 

Wide  variety  characterizes  the  exhibit  of  the  department  of  the 
interior.  There  is  a  magnificent  geological  collection  to  begin  with^ 
wherein  nothing  palaeolithic  or  picturesque  or  otherwise  possessing 
claims  to  public  recognition  is  overlooked.  The  same  department  is 
responsible,  too,  for  a  census-office  exhibit,  in  which  is  shown  the 
method  in  vogue  of  numbering  the  quinquennial  access  of  millions,  and 
of  compiling  the  gigantic  statistics  which  form  the  province  of  the 
bureau.  Natural  products  and  geographical  characteristics  of  the  world 
in  general  and  the  United  States  in  particular  come  within  the  scope  of 
the  department.  A  globe  which  almost  enters  into  competition  with 


352  UNITED   STATES   GOVERNMENT   BUILDING. 

the  original  in  magnitude  shows  all  the  countries  of  the  world  in  relief, 
revolving  in  time  with  the  revolution  of  the  world. 

Alaska,  with  her  vast  undeveloped  resources,  her  folk-lore  and  the 
manners  and  customs  of  her  people,  receives  special  attention,  and  is 
honored  above  all  her  sister  territories  by  a  special  exhibit  in  the 
Government  Building. 

United  States  Treasury  Exhibit. 

The  Bureau  of  Registry  makes  an  interesting  exhibit.  Here  the 
visitor  may  see  specimens  of  all  the  paper  money  and  bonds  issued  by 
the  Government  prior  to  the  institution  of  the  Bureau  of  Printing  and 
Engraving.  There  is  also  a  complete  historical  collection  of  continental 
and  colonial  currency.  There  are  specimens  of  Government  bonds  that 
at  one  time  passed  current  as  money.  Most  interesting  are  old  warrants 
drawn  for  immense  sums.  There  are,  for  instance,  warrants  for  pay- 
ment of  $15.000,000  in  the  Geneva  award,  and  other  legal  obligations 
of  the  Government.  There  are  also  complete  sets  of  old  state  bank 
moneys,  including  fractional  currency.  One  of  the  interesting  relics  in 
this  Registry  Exhibit  is  the  first  key  that  was  used  to  lock  the  treasury 
vaults  of  the  United  States.  This  was  long  before  the  present  era  of 
combination  locks,  which  are  also  illustrated. 

Alongside  the  Registry  Exhibit  there  is  a  magnificent  display  by  the 
Bureau  of  Printing  and  Engraving.  This  includes  specimens  of  all  the 
modern  currency  from  $i  bills  up  to  $10,000  bills.  There  are  also 
specimens  of  bonds  and  other  Government  securities.  In  separate 
frames  are  shown  the  highest  results  of  the  Bureau's  artists  and 
engravers.  One  frame  contains  currency,  another  Government  securi- 
ties, and  a  third  portraits  of  Government  officials,  including  all  the 
Secretaries  of  the  Treasury. 

Interesting  Coins   from  the   Mint. 

Adjoining  this  section  is  the  display  made  by  the  United  States  Mint. 
There  are  all  the  coins  ever  issued  by  the  Government.  There  is  also 
a  valuable  collection  of  foreign  coins  and  medals,  the  whole  exhibit 
being  valued  at  $100,000.  In  the  mint  section  there  is  a  power  press 
which  turns  out  Columbian  medals  as  souvenirs  for  visitors. 

The  exhibit  by  the  Internal  Revenue  Department  contains  all  the 
stamps  issued  since  the  inauguration  of  the  present  system.  In  different 
frames  are  shown  stamps  for  tobacco,  whisky,  cigars,  etc.  There  is  also 
an  interesting  historical  collection  of  stamps  for  deeds,  checks  and  legal 
documents. 


UNITED   STATES    GOVERNMENT   BUILDING.  353 

Scattered  around  the  entire  Treasury  Exhibit  in  the  Government 
Building  is  a  famous  collection  of  oil  portraits  of  Secretaries  of  the 
Treasury.  There  is  a  complete  set,  thirty-nine  in  all,  from  Alexander 
Hamilton  down  to  Secretary  John  G.  Carlisle.  Some  of  the  more  strik- 
ing and  artistic  portraits  are  those  of  Folger,  by  Eastman  Johnson ; 
Foster,  by  Richard  Gordon  Hardie ;  Windom,  by  C.  H.  L.  Macdonald, 
and  Carlisle,  by  Henry  Ulke.  The  portraits  of  Secretary  Carlisle  and 
ex-Secretary  Foster  are  given  specially  favorable  positions  at  the  entrance 
to  the  central  rotunda. 

• 

Rare  Specimens  of  Money. 

The  National  Museum  of  Washington  sent  an  exhibit  of  its  collection 
of  coins  and  other  metal  money,  which,  though  among  the  most  remark- 
able in  the  world,  have  not  hitherto  been  shown  to  the  public.  They 
include  ever  so  many  quaint  and  curious  specimens,  both  ancient  and 
modern,  representing  the  development  of  this  medium  of  exchange 
incidental  to  the  progress  of  mankind.  Whereas  now  among  all  civilized 
nations  such  objects  have  invariably  the  shape  of  disks  stamped  with 
values,  it  is  surprising  to  find  how  many  odd  and  grotesque  forms  gold 
and  silver,  copper  and  bronze  have  been  wrought  into  during  past  ages 
for  use  as  ready  cash. 

Among  the  oddities  of  this  kind  possessed  by  the  museum  are  pieces 
of  the  "  knife  money,"  which  was  circulated  in  China  as  late  as  the  first 
century  of  the  Christian  era.  These  coins,  if  such  they  may  be  called, 
are  of  iron,  and  have  somewhat  the  shape  of  razors,  being  about  six 
inches  long.  Their  peculiar  form  was  derived  from  an  ancient  custom 
which  made  knives  a  medium  of  barter.  They  were  worth  eight  cents. 
In  the  year  1 5  A.  D.  the  reigning  Emperor,  who  had  a  pretty  taste  for 
financiering,  ordered  large  numbers  of  them  to  be  gilded,  fixing  an 
arbitrary  value  of  80  cents  apiece  on  those  which  were  treated  in  this 
way.  Unfortunately  the  gilding  soon  wore  .off,  which  circumstance 
inspired  widespread  dissatisfaction  with  the  improved  currency,  and  on 
this  account  it  was  abandoned.  At  present  lumps  of  gold,  commonly 
in  the  shape  of  shoes,  are  employed  in  China  to  represent  large  sums, 
being  stamped  with  their  value  by  the  government. 

What  Barbarians  used  to  Do. 

Other  interesting  specimens  are  pieces  of  "  ring  money,"  such  as  were 

worn  as  ornaments  anciently  in  Great  Britain,  as  well  as  by  the  old 

Gauls.     Those  barbarians  used  to  carry  their  entire  fortunes  on  their 

persons  in  the  shape  of  articles  wrought  out  of  gold  and  other  metals. 

23 


354  UNITED   STATES  GOVERNMENT   BUILDING. 

These  objects  were'  only  incidental  for  purposes  of  adornment.  Their 
most  important  use  was  to  serve  as  ready  cash,  and  to  this  end  they 
were  made  of  a  standard  weight  and  purity,  like  modern  coins.  Often 
they  were  so  constructed  as  to  be  readily  divided  into  two  or  more  equal 
parts.  In  the  year  1700  a  specimen  was  dug  up  in  Staffordshire,  Eng- 
land, containing  2  pounds  2  ounces  of  pure  gold.  It  was  4  feet  long 
and  so  flexible  that  it  could  be  wrapped  around  the  arm  like  a  snake. 

The  museum  collections  include  all  sorts  of  curious  things  which  have 
been  used  in  lieu  of  coins  or  other  money  by  different  races  of  people 
all  over  the  world.  For  example,  in  Abyssinia,  the  country  of  Prince 
Rasselas,  bars  of  salt  are  employed  to  this  day  for  small  change.  The 
salt  is  dug  out  of  the  Sofia  Mountain  and  carried  to  the  king's  store- 
house, where  it  is  moulded  into  bricks  for  the  purpose.  Tea,  pressed 
into  bricks,  is  a  common  circulating  medium  in  Siberia,  in  parts  of 
which  the  prices  of  all  other  commodities  are  absolutely  regulated  by 
the  price  of  tea. 

In  the  central  part  of  South  America,  even  at  the  present  time,  pins, 
soap  and  eggs  are  current  as  money.  When  Columbus  landed,  the 
aboriginal  Indians  were  using  for  the  same  purpose  disk-shaped  pieces 
cut  out  of  human  skulls,  the  teeth  of  alligators  and  the  tusks  and  other 

bones  of  the  extinct  mastodon,  as  well  as  "  wampum  "  made  from  shells. 

\ 

First  American  Coins. 

The  earliest  American  coins  included  in  museum  collections  are 
those  which  were  minted  by  Cortez  by  permission  from  the  Spanish 
crown.  They  are  of  copper,  and  the  design  on  one  side  represents 
the  Pillars  of  Hercules.  It  is  believed  that  Cortez  coined  silver  money 
also.  After  his  issues  the  earliest  American  money  was  minted  for  the 
Burmudas  early  in  the  seventeenth  century.  However,  it  was  man- 
ufactured in  England.  The  metal  was  copper,  and  the  values  were  a 
shilling  and  sixpence.  It  was  called  "hog  money"  because  each 
piece  bore  the  figure  of  a  hog  on  one  side,  The  design  was  derived 
from  the  fact  that  the  early  settlers  on  tl^e  islands  found  a  great  many 
hogs  running  wild. 

The  earliest  coinage  ip  Connecticut  was  executed  by  one  John 
fiigley,  who  established  a  private  mint,  turning  out  copper  pieces  from 
ore  dug  on  his  own  premises.  These  bear  dates  from  1737  to  1739. 
Probably  the  chief  reason  why  they  are  scarce  is  that  the  copper  of 
which  they  were  made  Was  exceptionally  pure,  and  goldsmiths  used  the 
coins  largely  for  alloying.  In  those  days  the  colonial  paper  fluctuated 
in  value  very  much,  and  there  was  difficulty  in  giving  coins  a  constant 


UNITED  STATES   GOVERNMENT   BUILDING.  .        355 

worth.  Accordingly  the  modest  mint-master  inscribed  on  one  side  of 
his  piece  "  I  am  a  Good  Copper,"  while  on  the  other  side  appeared  the 
inscription,  "  Value  Me  as  You  Please." 

All  of  these  and  many  other  curious  coins  are  exhibited  by  the 
museum.  The  display,  it  is  said,  represents  a  value  of  $850,000. 

Historic  American  Documents. 

Every  precaution  is  taken  by  the  State  Department  to  prevent  any 
mishap  to  that  corner-stone  of  the  Republic,  the  original  Constitution 
of  the  United  States,  during  its  exhibition  at  the  World's  Fair.  It 
forms  a  part  of  the  State  Department  exhibit,  and  a  new  case  has 
been  constructed  to  preserve  the  old  document  from  possible  injury  or 
loss.  It  is  in  a  fairly  good  state  of  preservation,  though  showing  the 
effect  of  years  of  repose  in  a  cylindrical  tin  case,  which  slightly 
mutilated  the  edges. 

The  five  sheets  on  which  the  instrument  is  inscribed  are  contained  in 
cheap  wooden  frames,  having  been  transferred  from  a  portfolio  which 
held  them  for  many  years.  The  new  case  is  of  oak  sheathed  with  steel, 
and  is  said  to  be  almost  perfectly  fire-proof. 

The  frames  containing  the  old  documents  are  placed  in  five  drawers, 
while  above  is  displayed  the  Declaration  of  Independence  framed  in  an 
inner  drawer.  Similarly  framed  in  a  smaller  drawer  beneath  are  the  rough 
drafts  of  the  Declaration.  Other  historical  papers  rest  on  shelves  behind 
the  Declaration. 

The  articles  of  confederation  of  the  colonies  are  exquisitely  engrossed 
and  look  almost  as  if  they  were  written  yesterday.  They  are  on  a  long  roll 
of  the  finest  sheepskin  parchment,  the  sheets  being  sewn  together  with 
the  utmost  delicacy.  The  Declaration  of  Independence,  unfortunately, 
has  become  almost  indecipherable.  Nearly  all  the  signatures  have 
wholly  vanished  and  the  body  of  the  text  is  for  the  most  part  illegible. 

Priceless  Old  Books. 

Book  lovers  are  pleased  to  learn  that  several  rare  volumes  appear  in 
the  exhibit  in  metallic  boxes.  Among  them  is  "  Monroe's  View  of  the 
Executive,"  which  was  owned  by  Washington,  and  on  the  margin  of  the 
leaves  of  which  are  still  plainly  legible  his  answers  to  the  attacks  on  his 
exercise  of  the  executive  function.  The  book  passed  from  Washington 
to  Bushrod  Washington,  his  nephew,  and  was  by  him  given  to  Joseph 
Story,  and  by  that  great  jurist  bequeathed  to  Harvard  College. 

Another  priceless  volume  is  Alexander  Hamilton's  note-book  of  his 
own  law  cases,  in  which  occurs  the  memorandum  :  "  Received  this  day 


356  UNITED   STATES  GOVERNMENT   BUILDING. 

from  Aaron   Burr £'s."     This  book  is  the  property  of  the   Low 

Institute  of  New  York,  and  is  loaned  with  other  valuable  works  in  the 
exhibit. 

The  Salem  papers  make  a  very  interesting  collection  and  bring  witch- 
craft legends  to  the  recollection.  The  will  of  Roger  Conant,  first  settler 
of  Salem,  is  on  exhibition.  The  Plymouth  and  Providence  collections 
contain  charters,  patents,  and  agreements  illustrative  of  their  several 
types  of  Colonial  governmental  procedure. 

Revolutionary  Relics. 

Revolutionary  relics  and  articles  linked  with  the  history  of  the  early 
colonies  before  this  country  became  the  United  States  of  America  are 
in  the  Government  Building.  Among  them  are  rare  old  laces,  snuff- 
boxes, miniature  letters,  books,  swords,  shoe-buckles,  and  silver  plate, 
and  they  are  installed  in  the  alcoves  which  surround  the  giant  redwood 
trees.  With  the  exception  of  Virginia,  South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  all 
of  the  thirteen  original  States  contributed  to  the  exhibit,  which  was 
made  under  the  auspices  of  the  colonial  committee  of  the  Board  of  Lady 
Managers. 

Some  of  the  most  interesting  things  in  the  old  Bay  State  collection 
are  the  autograph  letters  of  famous  historical  personages.  The  strange 
and  dignified  phraseology  of  the  old  time  epistles  contrasts  strongly  with 
polite  notes  of  the  present  day.  For  instance : 

"  Mrs.  Washington  presents  her  compliments  to  General  Knox  and 
begs  his  acceptance  of  two  hair  nets.  They  would  have  been  sent  long 
ago  but  for  want  of  tape  which  was  necessary  to  finish  themt  and  which 
was  not  obtained  till  yesterday. 

"  Newburg,  March  the  6th,  1783." 

And  the  conqueror  of  British  legions  responds  as  follows : 

"  General  Knox  has  the  honor  to  present  his  most  respectful  compli- 
ments to  Mrs.  Washington,  and  to  assure  her  that  he  is  deeply  im- 
pressed with  the  sense  of  her  goodness  in  the  favor  of  the  hair  nets,  for 
which  he  begs  her  to  accept  his  sincere  thanks. 

"West  Point,  8th  March,  1783." 

Bible  Printed  in  1599. 

There  is  a  Bible  in  the  Massachusetts  collection  which  was  printed  in 
1559  and  brought  to  America  by  John  Alden  in  the  Mayflower.  Then, 
of  course,  there  is  a  fragment  of  Plymouth  rock.  General  Joseph  War- 
ren's Latin  grammar,  published  in  1720,  and  a  copy  of  the  stamp  act  of 
1765,  which  was  the  property  of  the  brother  of  General  Putnam, 


UNITED  STATES   GOVERNMENT  BUILDING.  357 

are  also  shown.  A  piece  of  the  torch  that  General  Putnam  took  into 
the  cave  with  him  when  he  killed  the  wolf  at  Pomfret,  Conn.,  is  on  dis- 
play. Benedict  Arnold's  fife  and  Aaron  Burr's  visiting  card  are  in  the 
case  alongside  a  pair  of  baby  shoes  140  years  old,  which  were  once  worn 
by  one  of  George  Washington's  aide-de-camps. 

The  epaulets  and  spurs  of  General  Burgoyne,  captured  in  the  battle  of 
Saratoga,  are  lying  next  the  pipe  once  smoked  by  Miles  Standish. 
Then  there  are  old-fashioned  pitch-pipes  used  by  the  Puritan  fathers  be- 
fore the  invention  of  the  tuning-fork.  John  Hancock's  proclamations, 
and  silver  and  glassware  from  his  table,  are  also  shown,  and  Major  Pul- 
ling's  snuff-box  is  in  the  same  case  with  silverware  and  bronzes  made 
by  Paul  Revere,  for  whose  benefit  Major  Pulling  hung  out  his  lantern 
when  Revere  aroused  the  countryside  to  arms.  John  Hancock's  ring, 
which  he  wore  when  he  signed  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  is 
alongside  several  watches  which  belonged  to  John  Quincy  Adams. 

Rhode  Island  sent  some  interesting  relics  of  Roger  Williams  and 
Governor  Winthrop,  and  New  York's  exhibit  contains  some  valuable 
specimens  of  silver  plate  and  wampum  contributed  by  John  Boyd 
Thacher. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
The   Fisheries    Building. 

THE  Fisheries  Building  embraced  a  large  central  structure  with 
two  smaller  buildings  connected  with  it  on  each  end  by  arcades. 
The  extreme  length  of  the  building  was    1,100  feet  and  the 
width  200  feet.     It  was    located   to  the    northward   of   the 
United  States  Government  Building.     In  the  central  portion  was  the 
general  Fisheries  exhibit.     In   one   of   the   other   buildings   was    the 
Angling  exhibit  and  in  the  other  the  Aquaria.     The  exterior  of  the 
building   was   Spanish-Romanesque,    which    contrasted    agreeably    in 
appearance  with  that  of  the  other  buildings. 

To  the  close  observer  the  exterior  of  the  building  was  exceedingly 
interesting,  for  the  architect,  Henry  Ives  Cobb,  exerted  all  his  ingenuity 
in  arranging  innumerable  forms  of  capitals,  brackets,  corners  and  other 
ornamental  details,  using  only  fish  and  other  sea  forms  for  his  designs. 
The  roof  of  the  building  was  of  old  Spanish  tile,  and  the  side  walls  of 
pleasing  color.  The  cost  was  about  $200,000. 

In  the  center  of  one  building  was  a  rotunda  60  feet  in  diameter,  in 
the  middle  of  which  was  a  basin  or  pool  26  feet  wide,  from  which  rose 
a  towering  mass  of  rocks,  covered  with  moss  and  lichens.  From  clefts 
and  crevices  in  the  rocks  crystal  streams  of  water  gushed  and  dropped 
to  the  masses  of  reeds,  rushes  and  ornamental  semi-aquatic  plants  in  the 
basin  below.  In  this  pool  gorgeous  gold  fishes,  golden  ides,  golden 
tench  and  other  fishes  disported.  From  the  rotunda,  one  side  of  the 
larger  series  of  Aquaria  was  viewed.  These  were  ten  in  number,  and  had 
a  capacity  of  7,000  to  27,000  gallons  of  water  each. 

Passing  out  of  the  rotunda,  a  great  corridor  or  arcade  was  reached, 
where  on  one  hand  could  be  viewed  the  opposite  side  of  the  series  of 
great  tanks,  and  on  the  other  a  line  of  tanks  somewhat  smaller,  ranging 
from  750  to  1,500  gallons  each  in  capacity.  The  corridor  or  arcade  was 
about  15  feet  wide.  The  glass  fronts  of  the  Aquaria  were  in  length 
about  575  feet  and  had  3,000  square  feet  of  surface. 

One  part  of  the  exhibition  was  prepared  by  the  United  States  Fish 
Commission,  and  one  of  the  annexes  to  the  main  building  contained 
glass  tanks  filled  with  denizens  of  the  deep  living  almost  in  a  state  of 
nature. 
358 


THE   FISHERIES   BUILDING.  359 

Besides  these  live  fish,  which  included  specimens  of  those  that  live  in 
salt  water,  there  were  complete  collections  of  the  implements  used  in 
catching  and  curing  them.  Canada  sent  her  fishing  vessels,  staunch  and 
seaworthy,  from  which  her  people  take  the  cod,  and  there  could  be  seen 
also  the  birch  bark  canoes  from  which  the  Indians  of  the  Pacific  coasts 
lure  the  salmon. 

Fishing  has  not  received  much  attention  at  international  exhibitions. 
London  had  an  exposition  devoted  entirely  to  fisheries  that,  of  course, 
was  finer  than  the  present  display,  but  in  Chicago  a  very  great  deal  was 
done  to  illustrate  the  industry,  and  that,  too,  without  any  American 
precedents. 

After  going  through  the  Fisheries  Building  the  visitor  got  a  very  good 
idea  of  how  fish  are  caught  and  prepared  for  the  market.  The  angler 
and  the  fish  liar  could  both  get  data  to  continue  their  favorite  occupa- 
tions with  renewed  vigor,  while  the  man  who  catches  fish  to  make  them 
into  fertilizer  could  acquire  useful  information.  Thus  poet  and  materi- 
alist were  both  accommodated. 

Fishing  Boat  from  Nova  Scotia. 

Of  all  the  foreign  countries  Canada  sent  the  biggest  display.  As  you 
entered  the  portal  there  was  seen  a  tall  trophy,  made  up  of  an  assortment 
of  nets,  paddock  models,  photographs  and  fish  preserved  in  alcohol  and 
stuffed,  all  grouped  round  a  monument,  on  the  top  of  which  sat  an 
angler  with  his  rod  over  his  shoulder,  evidently  starting  out  for  a  day's 
sport.  A  big  Canso  two  masted  fishing  boat  stood  near  the  monument. 
It  told  the  secret  of  much  of  that  wealth  of  Nova  Scotia  which  is  taken 
from  the  sea  in  a  net  or  on  a  hook. 

Glance  around  the  building.  There  are  models  of  fish,  stuffed  fish 
and  fish  eating  birds.  A  seventy  pound  salmon  from  Queen  Charlotte 
Sound,  British  Columbia,  suggests  a  lot  of  possibilities  to  the  teller  of 
fish  stories.  Bark  and  dugout  canoes  from  the  west  coast  of  Canada 
tell  the  story  of  the  Indian  angler,  and  a  little  model  of  his  home  and 
its  surroundings  shows  where  he  is  when  not  on  the  water.  A  right 
whale  and  a  shark  well  mounted  show  other  productions  of  the  Dominion. 

Notice  the  central  figures  in  the  fisheries  exhibit  of  New  South  Wales. 
They  are  four  skins  from  great  antarctic  seals,  measuring  eight  feet  and 
over  from  the  tips  of  the  noses  to  the  ends  of  the  black,  clammy  flippers. 
There  is  a  most  complete  showing  in  sea  fish,  birds  and  animals  and  the 
great  families  of  reptiles  and  crustaceans  of  that  land.  The  exhibits 
embrace  almost  every  variety  of  fishes  found  off  the  New  South  Wales 
coast,  frogs,  lizards,  snakes  from  land  and  water,  and  such  fish-eating 


360  THE  FISHERIES  BUILDING. 

birds  as  the  cormorant,  gull  and  the  divers  specimens  of  fishing  hawks 
and  eagles.  The  fish  exhibit  is  very  complete,  but  none  are  living 
specimens.  They  are  preserved  in  spirits,  or  shown  in  tins  as  specimens 
of  Australian  canneries. 

The   Fish-Eating  Albatross. 

The  most  interesting  of  the  exhibits,  perhaps,  is  the  collection  of  fish- 
eating  birds.  Of  these  the  albatross  is  the  most  magnificient,  with  its 
great  stretch  of  wings.  Many  of  these  birds  are  mounted  and  suspended 
in  mid-air  as  if  in  flight.  The  seal  collection  is  a  splendid  one.  A  base 
of  jagged  rocks  forms  the  mount,  with  the  biggest  seal  surmounting  it. 
The  others  are  placed  in  natural  positions  below. 

Aside  from  these  exhibits  there  is  shown  a  model  of  a  fishing  boat  in 
the  proportion  of  6  feet  to  22  feet.  It  is  rigged  with  sails  and  is  made 
of  red  cedar.  Several  large  photographs  of  the  Sydney  fish  markets  are 
also  shown. 

The  activity  with  which  the  Norwegians  search  the  ocean  is  illustrated 
by  their  exhibit.  Real  fishing  boats  that  savor  of  the  hardy  Viking  are 
there.  As  far  north  almost  as  Spitzbergen  these  sharp-prowed  crafts 
part  the  waves  when  their  masters  are  on  the  hunt  for  cod  and  seal.  A 
model  of  a  Viking  ship  is  there  to  show  the  little  change  of  model  that 
has  been  made  in  a  thousand  years. 

Norwegian  stock  fish  and  cod  liver  oil  are  there  in  large  quantities. 
They  give  a  sea  flavor  to  the  atmosphere,  and  you  can  almost  see  the 
fish  jumping  in  the  nets  and  hear  the  boat's  keel  rubbing  on  the  beach 
and  the  swash  of  the  surf  if  you  close  your  eyes  for  a  moment.  All 
sorts  of  canned  fish  from  old  Norway  are  piled  up,  and  there  is  a  fisher- 
man's hut  from  Loffoden  showing  how  two  or  three  boat's  crews  bunk  in 
a  roughly  built  pine  board  box. 

Beautiful  Model  of  a  Boat. 

The  Dutchman  is  present  with  a  beautiful  model  of  a  North  Sea 
herring  lugger,  one-seventh  actual  size,  with  a  goodly  assortment  of 
Holland  herring.  In  the  eastern  pavilion  is  located  the  fresh-water 
aquaria.  Leaving  the  aquaria,  steps  are  retraced  to  the  main  building, 
through  the  western  arcade  to  the  angling  pavilion.  Here  is  the  angler's 
paradise — an  array  of  rods,  reels,  flies,  hooks,  landing  nets,  gaffs,  boats, 
clothing,  wading  boots,  presented  in  great  profusion.  Brazil  has  a  sec- 
tion in  the  building  where  is  arranged  its  collection  of  aquatic  fauna,  its 
fishing  boats  and  apparatus  of  capture. 

Gloucester,  Mass.,  which  is  not  too  proud  to  own  up  that  its  greatness 


THE   FISHERIES   BUILDING.  361 

is  due  to  its  fisheries,  has  staked  out  a  lot  of  space  in  which  it  glories  in 
the  fact.  It  tells  of  the  past  and  present  condition  of  its  industries.  A 
model  of  the  town  as  it  was  one  hundred  years  ago  with  cob  wharves 
and  cheap  little  fish  sheds,  is  shown,  and  then  the  town  proudly  points 
to  a  model  of  a  section  of  the  town  as  it  is  to-day.  How  the  wharves 
and  the  warehouses  have  grown  !  The  very  men  who  pace  the  piers  in 
miniature  seem  to  have  a  sense  of  their  increased  worth. 

Bound  to  Sight  Mackerel. 

A  ship's  topmast  thirty  feet  high  is  shown  and  on  the  crosstrees  is  a 
Gloucester  fisherman  eagerly  looking  out  for  a  school  of  mackerel. 
Another  model  is  that  of  a  man  at  a  wheel  ready  to  point  the  ship's 
cut- water  in  the  direction  of  those  mackerel,  in  whichever  point  of  the 
compass  they  are  sighted. 

An  exhibition  of  Rhode  Island's  fisheries  forms  a  not  inconsiderable 
portion  of  the  state's  display  at  Chicago.  There  are  two  models  of 
fishing  steamers,  the  exact  reproduction  of  the  originals.  The  largest 
is  a  model  of  the  steamer  George  W.  Humphrey.  Not  the  minutest 
portion  of  the  vessel's  equipment  is  missing  in  the  model.  A  pull  on 
the  little  rope  lowers  the  net  used  for  lifting  the  fish  up  and  down  and 
in  and  out  of  the  hold ;  in  the  tiny  boats  the  carefully  knitted  seines  are 
resting,  the  wheel  answers  every  touch,  and  the  pennant  with  the  steamer's 
name  flies  from  the  mast  just  as  in  the  original.  This  model  is  seventy- 
five  inches  in  length,  its  mast  is  forty  inches  in  height.  The  Humphrey 
was  built  in  Philadelphia  in  1877,  and  is  regarded  by  the  fishermen  as  a 
lucky  boat.  This  vessel  has  landed  more  fish  than  any  other  boat  used 
anywhere  in  the  fishing  business.  Her  record  is  80,000  bushels  in  a 
little  over  three  months,  and  upon  the  strength  of  these  facts  she  was 
selected  as  a  proper  vessel  to  be  modeled  for  exhibition  at  the  World's 
Fair. 

The  other  model  is  that  of  the  steamer  Seven  Brothers,  familiar  to  all 
Southeastern  Rhode  Island  people.  The  same  characteristic  features 
displayed  in  the  miniature  Humphrey  are  presented  in  the  other  little 
boat,  but  are  even  more  conspicuous  because  the  second  model  is  the 
smaller  of  the  two.  The  Seven  Brothers  was  built  in  1870  by  Herres- 
hoff,  and  the  first  steamer  ever  constructed  by  the  famous  Bristol  boat- 
builders.  The  model  poses  at  Chicago  as  a  reproduction  in  miniature  of 
the  fishing  steamer  which  has  paid  a  larger  percentage  upon  the  amount 
of  capital  invested  than  any  vessel  ever  built. 

Captain  Rose  has  invented  a  patent  scup  trap,  which  has  superseded 
all  others.  A  model  of  this  he  prepared  and  also  a  reproduction  of  a 


3G2  THE  FISHERIES  BUILDING. 

purse  seine.  The  trap  comprises  the  long  leader  with  poles  and  netting 
and  the  divisions  of  the  different  compartments.  The  fish  swim  along- 
side of  the  leader,  follow  it  around,  and  finally,  land  in  an  inclosure 
called  the  kitchen.  If  they  swim  straight  ahead  they  strike  the  netting 
of  another  compartment,  access  to  which  is  obtained  through  a  square 
hole  in  the  center  of  the  wall  of  netting,  which  bulges  in  towards  the 
kitchen.  A  goodly  proportion  of  the  fish  swim  in  through  this  hole  and 
reach  what  is  termed  the  parlor,  where  they  swim  their  last  swim.  The 
bottom  is  netting  and  the  sides  are  netting,  the  only  way  of  getting  out 
being  through  the  hole  they  entered.  They  don't  go  out  this  way 
because  they  don't  know  enough.  Eventually  the  bottom  of  the  trap  is 
pulled  up  and  its  contents  are  emptied  into  the  boats. 

To  offset  the  effect  of  Grace  Darling's  boat,  sent  here  by  Great  Britain, 
Rhode  Island  shows  the  boat  in  which  Ida  Lewis  put  to  sea  and  saved 

life. 

Pennsylvania's  Fish  Exhibit. 

Eight  thousand  dollars  were  appropriated  by  the  Pennsylvania  Legis- 
lature for  that  state's  display  in  the  fish  and  fisheries  building.  Colonel 
John  Gay,  representing  the  Pennsylvania  State  Fish  Commission 
installed  the  exhibit.  It  consists  mainly  of  the  different  varieties  of 
fish  propagated  by  the  Fish  Commission  of  the  state,  and  found  in  the 
waters  of  Lake  Erie.  Photographs  of  the  hatcheries  at  Erie,  Pa., 
Corry,  Pa  ,  and  other  points  are  shown. 

The  Pennsylvania  space  in  the  Fisheries  Building  is  1,700  square  feet 
'in  extent.  The  space  is  in  the  shape  of  a  kite,  and  extends  along  the 
main  hall.  At  the  apex  of  the  kite  is  the  entrance.  The  pavilion  con- 
taining the  exhibit  is  built  of  plate  glass  and  iron,  and  covers  the  entire 
space.  At  the  entrance  is  an  arch  of  rustic  work  covered  with  vines  and 
aquatic  plants.  In  the  center  of  the  arch  is  a  keystone,  typical  of  the 
state,  surmounted  by  the  Pennsylvania  coat-of-arms.  Inside  the  arch  is 
a  pool  containing  a  model  fish-way,  such  as  are  placed  in  rivers,  supplied 
with  water  by  cascades  and  waterfalls.  The  pool  is  of  rustic  appearance 
and  filled  with  green  water  plants. 

Under  the  pool  is  a  tunnel,  the  walls  of  which  are  composed  of  the 
aquariums  that  contain  the  exhibit  proper.  These  aquariums,  number- 
ing twenty-one,  are  set  upon  a  rustic  terrace  of  cork  bark  built  upon  a 
pedestal  of  natural  stones  of  varied  forms,  this  terrace  forming  the  outer 
wall  of  the  tunnel.  The  tunnel  is  dark  and  the  light  from  without  shin- 
ing through  the  glass  sides  of  the  aquariums  shows  the  fish  to  the  best 
possible  advantage  to  those  inside  the  tunnel.  The  aquariums  vary  in 
size,  the  largest  being  6  by  3  by  3,  and  weighing  two  tons.  While  it  is 


Trffi   FISHERIES   BUILDING.  363 

impossible  to  keep  all  the  fish  alive  arrangements  are  made  td  have  new 
supplies  sent  on  to  replenish  the  aquariums.  The  exhibit  consists 
mainly  of  the  different  varieties  of  lake  fish.  Outside  of  this  there  are 
varieties  of  trout  and  fish  taken  from  the  hatcheries. 

Fish  From  Every  Clime. 

Oregon,  Washington  and  North  Carolina  show  that  they  are  good 
fishermen,  and  then  the  investigator  comes  to  the  pavilion  of  Japan. 
The  entrance  is  made  of  two  masts,  such  as  they  have  on  their  fishing 
boats,  and  crossed  oars  draped  with  netting.  Photographs  and  stuffed 
fish  show  the  results  of  their  work. 

A  fine  model  of  a  boat,  with  the  men  in  it  hauling  in  their  herring  nets, 
is  in  the  pavilion  of  the  Netherlands,  and  there  are  barrels  of  herring 
and  photographs  on  screens  of  the  fishery  work.  Minnesota  sends  not 
only  fish  but  fish  eating  birds.  The  only  machinery  in  motion  in  the 
whole  building  is  an  apparatus  shown  by  a  Chicago  man  for  cleaning 
fish.  Bostonians  illustrate  their  fish  markets  and  the  appliances  for 
catching  the  principal  ingredients  for  lobster  salad,  that  strange  dish  for 
which  the  jaded  midnight  appetite  so  often  yearns. 

In  the  Government  annex  the  tanks  are  arranged  in  a  circle  and  within 
that  is  another  circle,  a  very  effective  plan  as  it  turns  out.  It  was  sug- 
gested by  Captain  Joseph  W.  Collins,  chief  of  the  Department  of  Fish 
and  Fisheries,  who  went  to  sea  on  a  fishing  schooner  when  he  was  ten 
years  old.  Since  then  the  Captain  has  done  little  else  but  study  matters 
relating  to  fish.  In  1879  he  became  connected  with  the  United  States 
Fish  Commission,  and  he  was  connected  with  that  body  until  a  short 
time  ago.  He  was  one  of  the  staff  that  represented  this  country  at  the 
Fisheries  Exposition  in  London  in  1883. 

The  design  of  the  fishing  schooner  Grampus,  belonging  to  the  Fish 
Commission,  was  the  work  of  the  Captain,  and  in  command  of  that  ves- 
sel he  made  many  very  interesting  cruises. 

A  Happy  Family  of  Fishes. 

Swimming  around  the  tanks,  apparently  contented,  though  without 
very  much  intelligence  on  their  faces,  are  trout,  goldfish,  perch  and  a 
large  variety  of  specimens  from  the  lakes.  In  a  central  pond  are  some 
catfish  and  pike.  It  is  necessary  to  assort  the  trout  according  to  their 
sizes,  and  they  are  cannibals. 

The  exhibition  of  salt  water  fish  and  anemones  is  an  experiment, 
which  a  good  many  people  who  knew  shook  their  heads  about.  At  first 
the  sea  water  was  brought  to  Chicago  in  carboys,  such  as  are  used  for 


364  THE  FISHERIES   BUILDING. 

the  shipment  of  acids,  but  this  was  found  to  be  too  expensive  and  tank 
cars  were  substituted. 

United  States  Fish  Commissioner  McDonald  experimented  at  first  by 
evaporating  sea  water,  shipping  the  salt  that  remained  to  Chicago  and 
there  adding  it  to  fresh  water.  He  found  that  he  could'nt  fool  the  fish 
with  any  such  mixture  and  they  began  to  die.  Then  it  was  discovered 
that  Turk's  Island  salt  was  a  good  substitute  for  sea  salt  and  experiments 
were  made  which  resulted  in  the  discovery  that  a  gallon  of  salt  water 
made  from  this  salt  and  an  equal  quantity  of  real  sea  water  made  a  mix- 
ture which  the  fish  would  consent  to  live  in  and  breathe.  That  is  what 
they  have  been  getting. 

What  Sea  Water  Costs. 

Sea  water  in  Chicago  is  almost  as  expensive  as  beer.  The  greatest 
care  is  taken  to  keep  it  from  being  wasted.  About  70,000  gallons  are 
kept  on  hand.  After  a  quantity  of  it  has  been  kept  in  a  tank  for  a 
sufficient  length  of  time  it  is  drawn  off  and  is  run  into  a  filter  in  the  cel- 
lar made  of  stones,  gravel  and  sand  in  strata,  as  in  natural  soil.  This  is 
to  impart  new  life  to  it.  Then  it  is  pumped  back  into  a  tank  reservoir 
over  the  tanks  and  used  again.  The  water  runs  in  such  a  way  that  it 
becomes  aerated  again. 

For  the  use  of  big  Mississippi  fish  is  an  aquarium  72  feet  long,  5 
feet  deep  and  12  feet  wide.  It  contains  catfish,  sturgeon  and  pickerel. 
The  lake  fish,  which  include  sturgeon,  whitefih  and  bass,  were  gathered 
at  the  Put  In  Bay  station  on  Lake  Erie.  The  Atlantic  fish  were  col- 
lected at  Wood's  Holl,  Mass.  The  government  steamer  Fish  Hawk 
scoured  the  Southern  waters  for  specimens.  No  fish  can  be  brought 
from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  until  the  natural  warmth  of  the  water  in  Chi- 
cago reaches  60  degrees,  as  the  fish  would  catch  cold  and  die  after  being 
in  so  warm  a  climate. 

Starfish,  anemones  and  sea  urchins  have  a  tank  for  themselves.  They 
live  on  miscroscopical  algae,  and  if  their  water  was  once  filtered  it  would  de- 
prive them  of  food,  so  it  is  aerated  by  passing  air  through  it  in  bubbles 
from  rubber  pipes  lying  on  the  bottom  of  their  tank.  The  water  from 
Lake  Michigan  is  so  muddy  that  visitors  could  not  see  the  fish  in  it 
unless  it  were  filtered. 

At  the  extreme  end  of  the  main  Fisheries  Building  is  the  angling  an- 
nex, devoted  entirely  to  the  consideration  of  fishing  as  a  pastime.  There 
the  sporting  clubs  flock  by  themselves  and  argue  it  out.  A  New  York 
sportsman's  paper  has  a  pavilion  in  which  it  exhibits  yacht  models  and 
photographs  having  reference  to  the  art  of  fishing.  Outside  the  annex 


THE  FISHERIES   BUILDING.  365 

is  a  reproduction,  by  the  way,  of  Izaak  Walton's  fishing  house,  in  which 
there  is  an  oil  portrait  of  the  old  gentleman. 

Flies  Tied  and  Lines  Made. 

An  interesting  exhibit  is  that  of  the  American  Anglers.  It  includes 
fishing  boats,  tents  and  furniture.  There  is  a  display  also  of  flies,  rods,  reels 
and  tackle  and  some  young  women  engaged  in  tying  flies  on  the  hooks 
and  making  fishing  lines.  Primitive  boats  and  tackle  used  by  the  In- 
dians of  the  Amazon  and  the  more  modern  appliances  are  in  the  exhibit 
from  Brazil.  They  contrast  strangely  with  the  steel  rods  and  the  grace- 
ful flies  of  North  America. 

As  the  building  is  on  the  banks  of  the  lagoon  arrangements  have 
been  made  for  tournaments  at  fly  casting,  bait  fishing,  trolling  and  skit- 
tering during  the  Fair.  Several  fishing  camps  which  show  tents,  log 
huts  and  portable  houses  are  kept  up  on  the  bank,  and  anglers  are  able 
to  sneer  at  the  appliances  used  by  others  and  explain  the  virtues  of 
those  affected  by  themselves.  There  are  rare  opportunities  for  pitched 
battles,  pyrotechnics  of  veracity  and  piscatorial  sarcasm. 

We  have  sketched  in  a  general  way  the  most  entertaining  features  of 
the  Fisheries  Building.  Outside  of  these  there  are  all  sorts  of  exhibits 
with  Latin  names  that  are  of  absorbing  interest  to  the  specialist.  He 
can  flock  by  himself  and  devour  the  literary  works  of  aquatic  zoologists 
and  botanists.  He  can  wrap  himself  up  in  maps  telling  all  about  geo- 
graphical distribution  of  fish.  These,  of  course,  he  will  scoff  at  when 
he  finds  that  the  only  trout  stream  in  this  country,  sir,  that  amounts  to 
a  row  of  pins,  sir,  is  totally  omitted  from  the  maps. 

What  Can  be  Learned. 

Fishermen,  if  they  want  to  know  all  about  what  there  is  in  this  build- 
ing, must  study  algae  (very  sticky  looking  things  with  arms  that  wave  in 
the  water),  sponges,  corals,  polyps  and  jelly  fish.  Some  of  these  forms 
of  life  so  nearly  border  on  the  vegetable  that  it  is  a  little  difficult  fora  non- 
expert to  tell  to  what  kingdom  they  should  be  assigned.  But  they  have 
such  a  quiet,  easy  way  of  taking  life  that  they  are  a  standing  reproach 
to  the  superexcited  American. 

Passing  lightly  over  the  entozoa  and  the  epizoa — never  mind  what 
they  are — passing  them  over  for  lack  of  time  the  investigator  finds  him- 
self confronting  whole  cases  of  oysters,  clams  and  other  mollusks.  The 
oyster  of  tender  age  is  shown  that  recks  not  of  the  lemon  or  the  pepper 
and  the  silver  spike,  and  he  can  be  seen  growing  until  the  proud  mo- 
ment when  he  is  old  enough  to  grace  the  table  of  an  American  citizen. 


366  THE   FISHERIES   BUILDING. 

Then  comes  the  grand  array  of  worms  that  dwell  under  water  and 
that,  spurned  by  the  soaring  fishes,  get  their  revenge  when  they  are  put 
on  the  point  of  a  hook  and  used  as  bait.  All  the  bait  worms  are  ex- 
hibited and  the  leeches.  Then  are  seen  the  reptiles,  such  as  turtles, 
terrapin,  lizards,  serpents,  frogs  and  newts.  Some  compromise  ought  to 
be  effected  with  the  United  States  Fish  Commission  by  which  turtle, 
terrapin  and  frogs'  legs  are  not  classified  with  the  reptiles.  It  is  de- 
cidedly unpleasant  to  a  man  of  taste.  The  aquatic  birds,  mammalia, 
such  as  otters,  seals,  whales,  and  such  like  live  things  are  there  in  minute 

detail. 

Fishy  Literature. 

In  the  sea  fishing  and  angling  sections  you  can  find,  in  addition  to 
those  more  dramatic  and  readily  discernible  items  that  have  been  brought 
to  your  attention  already,  books  on  the  history  of  fishing,  its  laws  and 
its  commerce,  charters  and  seals  of  fishermen's  guilds,  fishery  laws  of 
different  countries,  reports  of  and  literature  of  fishes,  in  which  are  com- 
prehended some  of  the  most  deliberate  lies  ever  told  about  size  and 
weight,  and  yarns  about  the  acclimatization  offish. 

Then  there  are  fish-hooks,  jigs  and  drails  and  gear  until  you  get  tired 
of  looking  at  it,  nets  and  seines,  weirs  and  pounds,  knives  and  gaffs. 
The  implements  used  in  entrapping  whales,  seals,  cod,  mackerel,  halibut, 
herring,  haddock,  menhaden,  swordfish,  bluefish  and  the  snares  for  be- 
guiling the  wily  oyster  and  the  elusive  sponge. 

This  recital  is  beginning  to  sound  like  a  Patent  Office  report  or  a 
catalogue,  but  fishermen  are  bound  to  have  the  facts.  All  the  things  for 
catching  salmon,  shad  and  other  edibles  are  there.  After  you  have 
caught  them  you  are  enlightened  on  the  arts  of  curing,  canning,  drying, 
smoking  salting  and  cooking.  If  you  are  not  in  a  hurry  to  eat,  but  the 
fish  is  in  a  hurry  to  be  made  away  with  and  you  don't  know  what  to 
do,  there  are  a  number  of  antiseptics  there  suitable  for  preserving  him. 

Pearls  and  Ornamental  Shells. 

For  the  women  there  are  pearls,  mother  of  pearl  and  shells  of  orna- 
mental kinds  and  models  of  fish  markets,  all  containing  fishwives,  who 
are  quite  silent.  Fish  culture  you  are  in  a  position  to  learn  all  about, 
as  the  thing  is  done  right  there  before  your  eyes.  The  hatching  nursery 
and  feeding  of  the  fry  and  the  diseases  of  fish,  and  the  medicines  to  give 
them  are  exhibited.  Streams  that  are  polluted  with  sewage  or  chemicals 
can  be  rendered  habitable  for  fish.  Then — here  comes  a  long  word — 
they  have  got  up  a  physico-chemical  investigation  into  those  qualities 
of  fresh  and  salt  water  which  affect  aquatic  animals,  a  similar  sort  of  an 


THE  FISHERIES  BUILDING.  367 

investigation  of  the  bottoms  of  the  sea  and  of  lakes  shown  by  samples, 
and  aquatic  plants  in  relation  to  fishing.  Then  they  have  ways  of 
making  fish  for  identification,  it  having  been  found  impossible  to  induce 
them  to  answer  to  a  regular  name. 

The  largest  individual  exhibit  is  that  of  a  net  and  twine  company, 
which  shows  all  the  processes  of  manufacture  and  the  ways  in  which 
the  nets  are  used  as  well.  Another  pavilion  shows  the  glue  and  isinglass 
that  can  be  obtained  from  fish. 

Two  big-mouthed  alligators  were  sent  from  Florida,  whose  enormous 
jaw  cavities  seemed  to  be  trying  to  rival  the  magnitude  of  the  greatest 
exposition  ever  known.  They  were  scaly,  rough  monsters  over  twelve 
feet  in  length,  and  were  not  allowed  to  run  around  loose  lest  some  of 
the  visitors  should  be  advertised  as  having  mysteriously  disappeared. 

An  Immense  Aquarium. 

"We  are  undertaking  here,"  said  Commissioner  McDonald,  "to 
establish  the  largest  aquarium  that  exists  anywhere  in  the  world.  We 
want  to  have  represented  all  the  fish  that  swim  in  American  waters,  or 
are  caught  along  the  American  coast.  We  want,  also,  to  show  how  they 
are  caught,  and,  by  statistics  and  tables,  the  economic  value  of  the  various 
American  fish  industries  and  the  annual  reports  of  their  products.  The 
exhibit  is  made  geographically  so  as  to  show  in  sections  together  all  the 
fish  peculiar  to  the  different  parts  of  the  country. 

"  The  great  divisions  are  the  New  England  coast,  the  middle  Atlantic, 
the  gulf  district  and  the  Pacific  coast  for  the  salt-water  fish  and  the  New 
England  States  ;  the  lake  region,  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  the  West 
for  the  fresh-water  fish.  Fish  come  here  first  from  the  nearest  distribut- 
ing points,  and  when  they  have  been  put  in  the  aquaria  we  branch  out 
to  the  more  remote  points. 

"The  spectacular  features  of  the  exhibit  come  from  the  sea,  of  course. 
There  are  sharks  and  some  of  the  other  monsters  that  swim  along  the 
coast.  The  most  beautiful  thing  in  the  exhibit  is  an  anemone  grotto. 
The  anemone  is  an  animal  that  looks  like  a  plant.  When  it  is  all  closed 
up  it  looks  like  a  knot  on  a  log.  It  is  when  it  expands  that  it  is  beauti- 
ful. Then  it  throws  out  little  arms  that  look  like  tendrils  and  are  of  all 
the  colors  imaginable,  so  that  it  resembles  a  great  blossom  growing  at 
the  bottom  of  the  sea.  Around  them  grow  the  grasses  and  plants 
peculiar  to  the  sea  bottom,  with  branches  of  coral  and  the  ground  strewn 
with  shells.  These  are  only  a  few  of  the  queer  things  the  exhibit 
contains." 

Professor  Forbes,  who  has  charge  of  the  United  States  Fish  Cqrumis/- 


368  THE  FISHERIES  BUILDING. 

sion  exhibit,  received  two  figures  from  Washington  representing  two 
fishermen.  One  is  an  old  darky  fast  asleep,  with  his  bare  feet  in  the 
water,  while  a  crude  pole  is  slowly  but  surely  being  pulled  from  his 
hands  by  a  Mississippi  catfish,  which  has  been  caught  by  the  bent  pin 
which  serves  as  a  hook.  The  other  figure  represents  the  modern- 
equipped  fisherman  with  his  basket,  bamboo  rod  and  patent  reel  in  the 
act  of  taking  a  gamey  trout  in  the  landing-net.  The  expression  on  the 
face  of  each  is  very  natural,  both  figures  having  been  made  of  the  new 
glue  substance  now  used  by  the  fish  comission  for  all  models.  It  is 
pliable  and  has  not  the  hard,  glossy  appearance  so  unpleasant  in  wax. 

Queer  Fish  from  Japan. 

All  things  considered  the  Japanese  exhibit  at  the  Exposition  is  the 
most  remarkable  of  all.  It  is  remarkable  in  its  comprehensiveness,  in 
its  beauty,  and  in  its  peculiarities.  The  goverment  of  the  Mikado  was 
not  stingy  in  preparing  for  the  display  of  the  prosperity  and  advance- 
ment of  its  country.  The  Diet  appropriated  630,000  yen,  or  $500,000, 
the  sum  being  exceeded  only  by  Germany,  France,  and  Illinois.  Beside 
the  Phoenix  Temple  on  the  Wooded  Island,  the  tea-house,  and  the 
bazaar  on  the  Plaisance  there  are  exhibits  in  the  Woman's  Building  and 
in  the  Departments  of  Agriculture,  Art,  Fisheries,  Floriculture,  For- 
estry, Liberal  Arts,  Manufactures,  Mines,  and  Transportation. 

But  the  fisheries  is  probably  the  most  unique  exhibit.  Inasmuch  as 
Japan  is  an  insular  country  it  is  natural  that  fishing  should  be  one  of 
the  leading  occupations  of  the  people,  and  that  fish,  seaweed,  and  other 
marine  products  should  be  common  diet.  But  the  industry  of  fishing 
from  ancient  times  down  to  the  opening  of  Japan  was  a  simple  occupa- 
tion somewhat  limited  in  its  scope.  Since,  however,  the  Japanese  have 
learned  from  other  nations  to  what  extent  marine  industries  are  capable 
of  development,  fishing  has  become  with  them  the  source  of  many  and 
varied  lines  of  business,  and  affords  occupation  to  a  large  number  of 

persons. 

Raw  Fish  for  Food. 

The  exhibit  is  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  Fisheries  Building. 
Over  the  doorway  hangs  the  Japanese  flag  above  a  sort  of  curtain  of 
nets  ;  and  above  the  door  is  a  sign  with  the  name  Japan  made  of  shells 
of  "awabs"  (sea-ear).  Immediately  on  the  left  and  the  right  of  the 
entrance  are  piled  up  cans  of  fish.  This  industry  is  entirely  modern, 
but  is  growing  rapidly.  In  ancient  times  canning  was  unknown  as  a 
method  for  preserving  fish,  though  the  pickling  process  was  employed. 
Fish  were,  and  are,  eaten  raw,  boiled,  and  pickled  in  shell  or  "  shoyn  " 


THE   FISHERIES   BUILDING.  369 

(soy).  Epicures  delight  in  eating  fish  fresh  from  the  sea  or  river,  and 
scarcely  dead.  When  the  Emperor  of  Japan  in  1890  made  a  visit  to 
Mito  he  was  treated  to  large  live  salmon  out  of  the  Naka  River.  The 
canned  goods  in  the  Japanese  exhibit  are  those  of  tai,  or  perch,  wafer 
cake,  "  unagi-kaba-yaki  "  (roast  eels),  green  turtle,  mackerel,  lobster, 
oyster,  "  maguro"  (tunny),  tortoise,  salmon  (under  the  name  "  saumon,") 
and  spring  salmon. 

Smelt  fishing  by  means  of  cormorants  was  employed  more  in  olden 
times  but  is  kept  up  somewhat  at  the  present  day.  The  fishermen  catch 
their  cormorants  by  setting  wooden  images  of  the  birds  in  places  which 
they  frequent,  and  then  covering  the  surrounding  branches  and  twigs 
with  bird-lime.  One  bird  thus  caught  becomes  the  decoy  for  more. 
These  cormorants  are  so  valuable  that  their  owners  are  said  to  provide 
them  with  mosquito  nets  during  the  summer.  Cormorant  fishing  is 
always  done  at  night  by  torch-light.  A  skillful  fisher  can  handle  as 
many  as  twelve  cormorants  at  once,  and  many  catch  155  good  .jized  fish 
an  hour  by  each  cormorant 

When  the  great  Japanese  hero,  Yamato-Dake,  who  probably  is  only 
a  mythological  personage,  was  waging  war  against  the  enemies  of  his 
country,  he  reached  Yedo  Bay,  and,  looking  across  the  comparatively 
narrow  passage,  thought  it  no  difficult  matter  to  get  to  the  other  side. 
But  after  he  embarked  the  sea  god,  to  punish  his  insulting  arrogance, 
aroused  a  great  storm  which  threatened  to  overwhelm  the  boat.  Then 
Tachibona  Hime,  the  wife  of  the  hero,  bidding  her  lord  farewell,  leaped 
into  the  water  as  a  victim  to  appease  the  sea  god's  wrath.  Later 
Yamato-Dake  chanced  to  find  on  the  shore  his  wife's  wooden  comb, 
and,  erecting  an  altar,  he  dedicated  the  relic  to  the  gods.  On  the  same 
spot  still  stands  a  Shinto  shrine,  where  the  spirits  of  the  hero  and  the 
heroine  are  yet  worshiped  by  fishermen  and  sailors. 

24 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Transportation    Building. 

THE  great  feature  of  this  building,  which  is  960  by  250  feet,  is 
the  superb   main  entrance.       This  consists   of  an   immense 
single  arch,  enriched  to  an  extraordinary  degree  by  curving, 
bas-relief,  and  mural  paintings.      The  entire  scheme  forms  a 
rich  and  beautiful  yet  quiet  color  climax,  for  it  is  treated  entirely  in  gold 
leaf.      It  is  known  as  the  golden  door.      The  general  style  of  the  build- 
ing is  on  the  Romanesque  order.       From  the  cupola  of  this  building 
many  of  the  most  striking  groupings  of  the  great  buildings  are  most 
perfectly  seen.      Everything  in  the  way  of  transportation  from  a  baby- 
wagon  to  a  locomotive  is  exhibited  in  this  building. 

Placed  in  a  conspicuous  position  is  the  statue  of  Mr.  John  Edgar 
Thomson,  whose  eminent  services  in  developing  the  railroad  interests  of 
the  country,  especially  in  the  department  of  transportation,  rendered 
this  testimonial  both  just  and  appropriate.  Mr.  Thomson  was  born 
February  10,  1808,  at  his  father's  farm  in  Delaware  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, on  the  Baltimore  Post-road,  about  ten  miles  from  Philadelphia. 
His  family  was  a  Quaker  one,  which  settled  in  that  neighborhood  in  the 
early  Colonial  times — two  of  his  ancestors,  Samuel  Levis,  a  preacher 
among  the  Friends,  and  Bartholomew  Coppock,  both  members  of  the 
Provincial  Couucil,  having  come  over  with  William  Penn. 

At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  was  attached  to  the  Philadelphia  and 
Columbia  Railroad,  then  an  important  line,  and  three  years  afterwards, 
in  1830,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Camden  and  Amboy  Railroad,  which 
was  about  the  same  rank  as  the  other.  In  1832  he  went  to  Europe  to 
gain  a  professional  culture,  which  could  only  be  obtained  there ;  and  in 
1836  he  took  charge  of  the  Georgia  Central  Railroad,  the  longest  road 
then  in  this  country. 

In  Georgia  he  laid  the  foundation  of  his  future  career  by  that  system 
of  work  which  in  later  days  raised  him  to  eminence — a  far-sightedness 
and  boldness  in  his  original  conceptions,  joined  with  a  scrupulous  pru- 
dence in  each  step  taken.  In  the  course  of  his  life  he  three  times 
brought  a  great  railroad  through  a  general  financial  crisis — the  Georgia 
Central  through  that  of  1837,  the  Pennsylvania  and  the  Pittsburgh, 

370 


TRANSPORTATION   BUILDING.  371 

Fort  Wayne  and  Chicago  Railroads  through  that  of  1857,  and  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad,  with  all  its  connections,  through  that  of  1873. 

He  laid  out  the  town  of  Atlanta,  now  the  capital  of  Georgia,  and  is 
still  remembered  in  that  state,  though  many  years  have  passed  since 
then,  with  the  most  thorough  respect  and  regard.  He  left  the  Georgia 
Central  Railroad  in  admirable  order,  when,  in  1847,  he  was  called  to  be 
the  chief  engineer  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  which  had  just  been 
chartered.  The  transportation  system  of  Pennsylvania  then  consisting 
of  a  railroad  from  Philadelphia  to  Columbus,  another  one  from  Lan- 
caster to  Harrisburg,  a  canal  route  from  Columbia  to  Hollidaysburg  at 
the  foot  of  the  Alleghanies,  the  Portage  Railroad  over  the  Alleghanies, 
and  on  the  other  side  a  canal  from  Johnstown  to  Pittsburgh,  the 
quickest  time  from  Philadelphia  to  Pittsburgh  being  ninety-one  hours. 

The  great  problem  at  that  moment  to  be  met  was  the  passage  of  the 
Alleghanies.  The  Portage  Railroad,  as  it  was  called,  with  ten  inclined 
planes  up  the  side  of  the  mountain  and  stationary  engines  at  different 
points,  had  been  inadequate  to  compete  with  the  New  York  and  Balti- 
more lines  which  were  or  were  about  to  become  continuous  railroads 
without  any  such  inclined  planes — and  the  question  before  the  engineer- 
ing world  was  whether  or  not  there  was  any  better  substitute. 

A  Remarkable  Piece  of  Engineering: 

Mr.  Thomson  said  unhesitatingly  that  by  curves  the  ascent  could  be 
made,  and  with  a  short  tunnel  at  the  top  the  monstrous  obstacle  be 
conquered.  The  achievement  of  the  Horseshoe  beyond  Altoona  was 
the  crown  of  Mr.  Thomson's  professional  career;  for  from  that  time  he 
ceased  to  be  a  practical  engineer,  and  to  railway  administration  and 
finance  the  rest  of  his  life  was  devoted.  In  1852,  while  at  his  work  on 
the  mountain,  he  was  elected  President  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad. 

How  under  Mr.  Thomson's  rule  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  has  grown 
from  a  line  as  above  described  to  what  it  is  now,  connecting  New  York 
with  Chicago  and  with  St.  Louis,  having  its  termini  upon  the  Atlantic 
seaboard  and  upon  the  great  lakes,  and  controlling  as  far  as  New 
Orleans  and  into  Texas,  is  fully  recorded  in  the  railroad  history  of  the 
United  States.  Mr.  Thomson's  mind  was  unable  to  work  in  narrow 
channels,  or  within  a  limited  area.  His  thought  took  in  the  country  at 
large,  and  anticipated  the  future  growth  and  interests  of  the  nation.  His 
achievements  in  the  development  of  vast  railroad  interests  are  not  only 
evidences  of  the  ability  of  the  man,  his  fertility  of  resources  and  wonder- 
ful spirit  of  enterprise,  but  they  must  be  ranked  among  the  most  im- 
portant and  valuable  services  rendered  to  the  country  by  any  individual. 


372  TRANSPORTATION   BUILDING. 

There  is  not  space  here  to  speak  of  Mr.  Thomson's  personal  character- 
istics, or  the  domestic  life  which  was  beautified  by  his  qualities  of  heart 
and  of  mind.  A  man  of  positive  character,  strong  convictions  and 
great  energy  in  the  execution  of  his  purposes,  he  necessarily  antagonized 
some  interests  outside  of  his  own,  yet  the  universal  respect  accorded  to 
his  memory  attests  the  nobility  of  his  character. 

He  made  provision  for  a  noble  charity  which  remains  as  his  finest 
monument  under  the  efficient  management  of  his  widow.  This  is  an 
orphan  asylum  located  in  Philadelphia,  which  gathers  under  its  hospit- 
able roof  the  orphaned  children  of  the  employees  of  the  Pennsylvania 
and  Georgia  Central  Railroads.  Thus  the  success  which  crowned  his 
very  busy  and  active  life  has  taken  a  new  shape  since  his  death,  and  his 
benevolent  disposition  is  now  the  almoner  and  friend  of  those  who  per- 
haps otherwise  would  be  friendless  even  as  they  are  bereft  of  parental 
care  and  love. 

Bewildering  Display  in  the  Transportation  Building. 

It  should  be  classed  as  a  cardinal  sin  for  any  sightseer  to  merely 
walk  through  the  Transportation  Building,  glancing  at  the  exhibit  with 
indifferent  eye.  Better  not  enter  the  portals  of  the  building.  It  is  a 
place  for  the  student  and  not  for  the  mere  sightseer.  The  one  sees  the 
crowning  triumphs  of  evolution  in  transportation.  The  other  sees 
wheels  going  round  or  methods  for  making  them  do  so.  You  may 
travel  over  the  world  seeking  old  and  new  methods  with  a  fadist's  zeal 
and  a  lifetime  of  search  will  not  bring  you  to  as  many  methcds  of  pro- 
gression as  you  will  find  in  the  Transportation  Building.  The  experts 
in  transportation  methods  are  the  ones  who  are  the  most  astonished. 
It  convinces  them  more  than  anyone  else  of  the  littleness  of  human 
knowledge.  In  their  own  field,  where  they  have  been  accustomed  to 
wear  as  a  right  the  crown  of  the  chieftain,  they  meet  strangers  with 
methods  superior  to  their  own  in  every  respect. 

After  a  careful  inspection  of  the  cars  and  locomotives  the  general 
manager  of  one  of  the  best  roads  in  the  United  States  said  :  "  Our  com- 
plete train  service  in  the  United  States  is  perhaps  better  for  our  uses 
than  that  of  any  foreign  country,  but  there  is  not  one  of  them,  ap- 
parently, which  has  not  advanced  further  in  particular  directions. 
American  roads  can  learn  a  lesson  in  improved  methods  from  every 
foreign  exhibit  in  the  Transportation  Building.  It  is  rather  humiliating 
to  acknowledge  this,  and  I,  for  one,  have  just  ordered  a  smaller  sized 
hat,  but  the  thing  to  do>is  to  acknowledge  the  truth  and  adapt  for  our 
own  use  the  many  improvements  displayed." 


TRANSPORTATION  BUILDING.  373 

Marvellous  Achievements. 

How  Darwin  would  gloat  over  the  transportation  exhibit !  Logicians 
tell  us  it  is  a  vain  thing  to  attempt  proof  by  analogy.  Perhaps  not  by  a 
single  illustration,  but  how  is  it  when  illustrations  are  heaped  Ossa  on 
Pelion  ?  Whether  or  not  the  doctrine  of  evolution  applies  to  man,  there 
is  no  question  that  it  applies  to  the  works  of  man.  From  the  lifting  of 
weights  by  contracted  biceps  to  the  steam  crane  which  lifts  a  hundred 
tons  as  easily  as  the  baby  lifts  its  rattle  is  a  lesson  in  evolution.  From 
the  original  "  Rocket  "  and  "  Meteor "  locomotives  with  their  stove 
boilers  and  barrels  of  water  on  wheel-barrow  tenders  to  the  1 3O-ton 
locomotives  capable  of  a  speed  of  100  miles  an  hour  is  an  object  lesson 
seen  here  in  a  moment,  but  it  compasses  the  experiences  and  best  work 
of  hundreds  of  thousands  of  men  during  their  lifetime. 

Forty  years  ago  an  enterprising  Frenchman  joined  two  wheels  with  a 
frame,  put  a  saddle  on  the  frame,  and  with  toes  just  touching  the  ground 
developed  a  speed  which  astonished  the  universe.  From  this  "  dandy 
horse  "  to  the  modern  pneumatic  safety  bicycle  is  a  long  step  or  rather  a 
multitude  of  short  steps,  but  each  can  be  seen  in  the  general  scheme  of 
evolution.  One  is  fairly  dazed  at  the  development  of  man's  genius,  but 
his  exaltation  is  shattered  in  an  instant  by  the  chattering  of  an  imperti- 
nent sparrow  which  flits  jerkily  along  just  out  of  reach.  How  long  be- 
fore man  will  propel  himself  in  similar  wise?  From  the  "dandy  horse" 
to  the  pneumatic,  from  the  "  meteor  "  to  the  modern  locomotive  is  but 
the  beginning  of  things  in  comparison  with  the  airy  flight  of  the  British 
interloper.  Ages  may  come  and  Langleys  may  go  before  the  air-ship 
is  fitted  to  the  uses  of  man. 

Sights  that  Surprise  the  Visitor. 

Except  for  the  doorway  of  retreating  arches,  the  architectual  gem  of 
the  whole  Exposition,  no  particular  attempt  at  adornment  has  been 
made  on  the  Transportation  Building.  Every  nook,  nave,  corridor 
and  grand  gallery  is  built  for  a  purpose.  It  was  planned  and  built, 
more  than  any  building  in  Jackson  Park,  for  its  use  in  properly  display- 
ing ancient  and  modern  methods  of  transportation.  Being  in  this 
highest  sense  useful  it  is,  according  to  Socrates,  in  the  highest  sense 
beautiful. 

The  display  inside  of  the  hall  is  bewildering  in  its  range  and  variety. 
The  whole  history  of  transportation,  from  birch  bark  canoes  to  steam- 
ships, and  from  pack  horses  to  palace  cars,  is  unfolded  in  a  manner 
never  to  be  forgotten.  Looking  down  from  the  galleries  upon  the  acres 


374 


TRANSPORTATION   BUILDING. 


and  acres  of  exhibits,  one  sees  a  monster  black  steam  hammer  for  forg- 
ing armor  plates  which  towers  above  the  second  story,  a  row  of  famous 
locomotives  facing  out  from  the  annex  like  a  herd  of  elephants,  a  full 
section  of  colossal  ocean  steamships,  and  scattered  about  here  and 
there,  thousands  of  objects  that  tell  the  story  of  how  man  has  gradually 
annihilated  space. 

The  invention  and  development  of  the  locomotive  and  railway  system 
is  the  nineteenth   century  wonder.     Less  than  sixty-eight  years  since 


FIGURE   SYMBOLIZING   TRANSPORTATION. 

the  first  passenger  railway  ran  its  first  crude  train.  Now  the  great 
civilizer  has  penetrated  every  country.  About  ten  acres  of  ground  floor 
space  are  devoted  exclusively  to  exhibits  pertaining  to  railway  con- 
struction, equipment,  operation,  management  and  development.  Sixty- 
four  modern  locomotives  of  all  types  and  sizes  from  the  two  one- 
hundred  ton  Decapod  engines  which  stand  on  the  pedestals  between  the 
Administration  Building  and  the  Railway  Station  to  the  five  ton  logging 
locomotives  for  use  in  the  forests  of  Michigan. 

Modern    Engine  Exhibitors. 

The  exhibitors  of  engines  are  distributed  as  follows  : — Baluwin  Lo- 
comotive Works,  Philadelphia,  fifteen  engines,  raised  from  the  rails  and 


TRANSPORTATION   BUILDING.  375 

showing  the  machinery  in  operation  by  compressed  air ;  Brooks  Loco- 
motive Works,  Dunkirk,  N.  Y.,  nine  engines  ;  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Rail- 
road, three  engines — one  being  attached  to  a  complete  "  Royal  Blue 
Line  train  ;"  Cooke  Locomotive  and  Machine  Works,  Paterson,  N.  J., 
two  engines  ;  London  and  North  Western  Railway,  one  engine  (Webb 
compound)  and  a  train  of  two  coaches  ;  Lima  Locomotive  Works,  Lima, 
Ohio,  one  Shay  engine ;  New  York  Central  and  Hudson  River  Rail- 
rood,  two  engines  each,  with  complete  passenger  trains  of  Wagner  ves- 
tibuled  coaches,  one  the  "  Empire  State  Express,"  and  the  other  the 
"  Chicago  Limited ;"  Old  Colony  Railroad,  one  engine  and  coach  ;  H. 
K.  Porter  &  Co.,  Pittsburgh, five  engines;  Pullman  Palace  Car  Company, 
one  Baldwin  engine  and  train  of  vestibuled  coaches,  showing  the  "  Penn- 
sylvania Limited  ;"  Pittsburgh  Locomotive  Works,  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  five 
engines;  Richmond  Locomotive  Works,  Richmond,  Va.,  one  engine; 
Rhode  Island  Locomotive  Works,  Providence,  R.  I.,  three  engines ; 
Rogers  Locomotive  Works,  Paterson,  N.  J.,  three  engines ;  Schenectady 
Locomotive  Works,  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  four  engines ;  Westwood  & 
Winby,  London,  England,  one  engine  ;  France,  four  engines  and  cars; 
Germany,  two  engines,  two  passenger  coaches  and  several  freight  cars, 
one  being  equipped  as  an  ambulance  car  of  the  Red  Cross  Society,  with 
every  appliance  known  to  modern  railway  surgery.  A  handsome 
model  of  the  railway  station  at  Frankfort  is  also  shown  in  the  German 

section. 

Some   Old    Engines. 

Now  comes  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railway  with  the  "Pioneer," 
built  in  1833  by  the  Baldwin  Locomotive  Works,  the  fourth  engine  built 
by  that  firm.  The  Pioneer  came  to  Chicago  in  1848  and  was  the  first 
locomotive  to  penetrate  so  far  West.  This  engine  ran  on  the  old  Galena 
road,  now  a  portion  of  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  system,  and  it 
actually  steamed  into  the  Exposition  grounds  in  April.  A  little  further 
on  the  Old  Colony  Railroad  exhibit  their  first  engine,  the  "  Daniel 
Nason  "  and  the  first  coach  that  ran  between  Boston  and  Providence, 
and  these,  by  way  of  contrast,  stand  alongside  of  the  latest  Old  Colony 
engine  and  coach. 

One  of  the  most  famous  objects  in  the  neighborhood  is  the  seven  foot 
gauge  locomotive  "  Lord  of  the  Isles,"  belonging  to  the  Great  Western 
Railway,  of  England,  originally  shown  at  the  first  great  Exposition  in 
1851  in  London.  It  ran  until  1882,  when  the  change  to  the  standard 
gauge  laid  her  up.  She  was  one  of  a  class  of  engines  designed  by  Bru- 
nell  for  high  speed  between  London  and  Bristol,  and  has  made  seventy- 
five  miles  an  hour.  Engineers  will  look  at  this  giant  with  affection. 


376  TRANSPORTATION  BUILDING. 

The  London  and  North  Western  show  Trevithick's  engine  of  1802 
and  the  "  Rocket  "  of  1829  in  full  sized  wooden  models.  An  oppor- 
tunity is  here  offered  for  comparison,  as  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  exhibit 
models  of  the  same  engine.  The  Illinois  Central  Company  shows  the 
"  Mississippi,  "  built  in  England  in  1836  for  the  Natchez  and  Mississippi, 
now  a  portion  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad.  The  Nashville,  Chatta- 
nooga and  St.  Louis  exhibit  the  historic  engine  "  General,"  captured  by 
the  Andrews  raiders  on  the  Western  and  Atlantic  Railroad  in  1862. 

Old  De  Witt  Clinton    Locomotive. 

In  the  Transportation  Building  is  the  original  first  train  run  in  New 
York,  the  name  of  the  locomotive  being  "  De  Witt  Clinton."  The  "  De 
Witt  Clinton  "  was  built  at  the  West  Point  foundry,  at  the  foot  of  Beach 
street,  New  York  City,  in  1831.  She  was  mounted  on  four  wheels,  4 
feet  6  inches  in  diameter ;  there  were  two  cylinders,  5  ^  inch  diameter 
by  1 6  inch  stroke ;  the  weight  of  the  engine  was  about  six  tons,  and  the 
boiler  had  thirty  copper  tubes,  2^  inches  in  diameter. 

This  engine  was  run  on  trial  trips  on  the  Mohawk  and  Hudson  railroad 
at  various  times  from  July  2,  1831,  until  August  9,  when  the  first  regu- 
lar excursion  trip  was  made.  On  this  occasion  the  following  gentlemen 
rode  in  the  coaches  :  Erastus  Corning,  Mr.  Lansing,  ex-Governor  Yates, 
J.  J.  Boyd,  Thurlow  Weed,  Mr.  Van  Zant,  "  Billy  "  Winne,  penny  post- 
man ;  John  Townsend,  Major  Meigs,  "  Old  "  Hayes,  high  constable  of 
New  York  ;  Mr.  Dudley,  Joseph  Alexander,  of  the  Commercial  bank  ; 
Lewis  Benedict  and  J.  J.  DeGraft  The  engineer  was  David  Mathews 
and  the  conductor  was  John  T.  Clark,  who  mounted  a  small  seat  at- 
tached to  the  rear  of  the  tender  and  gave  the  signal  for  starting  by  blow- 
ing a  tin  horn.  The  fuel  used  on  this  trip  was  dry  pitch  pine,  coal  hav- 
ing been  previously  tried,  but  did  not  work  satisfactorily. 

Passengers  Showered  with  Sparks. 

As  there  was  no  spark  arrester  on  the  stack  the  smoke  and  sparks 
poured  back  on  the  passengers  in  such  a  volume  that  they  raised  their 
umbrellas  as  shields.  The  covers  were  soon  burned  off  these,  and  each 
man  whipped  his  neighbor's  clothes  to  put  out  the  fire  started  by  the 
hot  cinders. 

When  a  stop  was  made  at  the  water  station  an  attempt  was  made  to 
remedy  the  disagreeable  jerks  resulting  from  the  slack  between  the 
coaches  by  wedging  a  rail  from  a  neighboring  fence  between  each  car 
and  tying  it  fast  with  packing  yarn.  This  plan  succeeded,  and  the  train 
arrived  at  the  incline  plane  at  Schenectady  without  accident.  After  the 


TRANSPORTATION   BUILDING.  377 

party  had  partaken  of  refreshments  in  Schenectady  they  returned  to  Al- 
bany, and  thus  completed  the  first  regular  trip  of  a  locomotive  and  train 
in  New  York  State. 

In  order  that  the  progress  that  has  taken  place  in  the  manufacture  of 
locomotives  and  cars  since  the  De  Witt  Clinton  astonished  the  people 
may  be  thoroughly  appreciated  by  the  present  generation,  the  New  York 
Central  people  have  turned  out  from  their  own  shops  a  brand  new  stan- 
dard engine  and  train  of  cars,  which,  after  the  Exposition  at  Chicago, 
will  be  added  to  the  Empire  State  express,  the  fastest  train  in  the  world- 
The  locomotive  is  999,  and  without  the  tender  weighs  124,000  pounds  ; 
with  its  appendage  204,000  pounds,  or  in  round  numbers  102  tons.  A 
locomotive  of  which  this  is  a  duplicate  once  ran  148  miles  in  one  hour  and 
forty-six  minutes,  including  stops.  No.  999  and  its  three  palatial 
coaches  stood  side  by  side  with  the  De  Witt  Clinton  in  the  annex  depot 
for  several  days,  and  a  comparison  of  the  means  of  travel  at  the  com- 
mand of  our  grandfathers  with  those  we  enjoy  to-day  was  thus  given  the 
public.  As  it  would  take  the  De  Witt  Clinton  a  week  or  ten  days  to 
reach  Chicago  under  its  own  steam,  it  was  decided  to  convey  it  to  the 
Fair  on  flat  cars  especially  constructed. 

The  John  Bull  and  Old-Fashioned  Coaches. 

The  history  of  the  locomotive  dates  back  to  a  period  when  locomo- 
tion by  steam  was  in  the  earliest  age  of  experimentalism.  For  several 
years  previous  to  1830  experiments  attended  with  more  or  less  success 
had  been  made  in  England  with  locomotives  to  be  propelled  by  steam. 
In  1830  the  Planet,  constructed  by  George  Stephenson,  was  the  best  ex- 
ample of  a  machine  of  this  character,  and  after  witnessing  the  trial  of  its 
powers  in  1830,  Mr.  Robert  L.  Stevens,  the  founder  of  the  Camden  and 
Amboy  Railroad,  placed  an  order  with  Stephenson  to  build  an  engine 
on  the  same  lines  for  shipment  to  this  country.  This  engine,  christened 
John  Bull  after  its  arrival  in  America,  was  completed  in  May,  1831,  and 
shipped  to  Philadelphia,  where  it  arrived  in  August  of  the  same  year. 

The  original  weight  of  the  engine  was  about  ten  tons.  The  boiler  was 
thirteen  feet  long  and  three  feet  six  inches  in  diameter.  The  cylinders 
were  nine  by  twenty  inches.  There  were  four  driving  wheels,  four  feet 
six  inches  in  diameter,  made  with  cast-iron  hubs  and  wooden  spokes  and 
felloes.  The  interior  arrangements  were  primitive  in  the  extreme,-and 
the  handling  of  the  levers  used  in  starting  or  reversing  involved  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  hard  work  on  the  engineer.  When  the  engine  had 
finally  been  successfully  articulated  and  placed  upon  the  track  laid  for 
the  experiment,  the  boiler  was  pumped  full  of  water  from  a  hogs- 


TRANSPORTATION   BUILDING. 

head,  a  fire  of  pinewood  was  lighted  in  the  fur- 
nace, and,  at  an  indication  of  thirty  pounds  steam 
pressure,  the  throttle  was  opened  and  the  loco- 
motive moved  over  the  rails.  Several  other 
trials  were  subsequently  made,  the  locomotive 
was  taken  apart,  modifications  made,  a  tender 
improvised,  and  it  was  held  in  readiness  to  await 
the  completion  of  the  railroad. 

Undergoing  Changes. 

Between  1831  and  1836  the  "John  Bull'  un- 
J  derwent  considerable  modification,  as  changes 
|  suggested  themselves  to  the  watchful  eyes  of 
the  American  mechanics,  and  in  the  latter  year 
the  engine  was  in  active  service  on  the  Camden 
and  Amboy  road,  just  as  it  appears  to-day. 
During  its  more  than  half  century  of  life  the 
i  sturdy  old  machine  suffered  many  vicissitudes 
i  of  fortune.  After  years  of  admirable  service  the 
HyjjU^I  £  modern  machinist  produced  improvements  which 
relegated  the  old  engine  to  the  side  track,  and 
it  was  stored  away  in  Bordentown  for  a  number 
of  years.  Jn  1876  it  was  rescued  from  the  ob- 
livion enveloping  it  in  the  quiet  Jersey  town  and 
exhibited  at  the  Philadelphia  Centennial,  where 
it  attracted  much  attention.  Its  next  public 
appearance  was  at  the  Chicago  Exposition  of 
Railway  Appliances,  in  1883,  and  then  being 
presented  to  the  United  States  Government  by 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  it  has 
since  been  a  notable  feature  of  the  world  of 
curiosities  collected  in  the  National  Museum 
at  Washington.  The  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company,  through  Mr.  Theo.  N.  Ely,  Chief  of 
Motive  Power,  borrowed  it  from  its  present 
owners  to  place  on  exhibition  at  the  company's 
building  at  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition. 
The  engine  presents  a  strange  contrast  to  the 
magnificent  locomotives  of  the  present  day. 
While  the  essential  principles  of  locomotion  by 
steam  are  the  same  in  the  old  and  new,  the 


TRANSPORTATION   BUILDING.  379 

mechanism  is  entirely  different.  One  of  the  most  notable  features  of  the 
John  Bull  is  the  pilot  commonly  known  as  the  cowcatcher.  As  origi- 
nally constructed  in  England  there  was  no  pilot  attached,  but  when  the 
engine  was  placed  in  service  on  the  Camden  and  Amboy  road  it  was 
found  absolutely  necessary  to  provide  a  pilot,  in  order  to  assist  the 
machine  in  taking  curves,  and  engineer  Stevens,  after  considerable 
planning,  succeeded  in  constructing  an  awkward  affair  of  oak  which 
served  the  purpose. 

The  Original  Fuel. 

,  Wood  was  the  original  fuel  which  made  the  steam,  but  the  furnace 
has  been  changed  now  for  coal.  The  enclosed  tender  contains  a  storage 
capacity  for  about  2200  pounds  of  coal,  and  a  tank  holding  1500  gallons 
of  water.  The  water  is  sufficient  for  a  run  of  thirty  miles,  and  the  coal 
will  last  through  ninety.  The  curious  contrivance,  resembling  a  poke 
bonnet,  which  surmounts  the  tender,  was  called  a  "  gig-top."  In  it  sat 
the  forward  brakeman,  who  not  only  kept  a  sharp  lookout  for  other 
trains  approaching  on  the  same  track,  but  signaled  to  the  rear  brakeman 
when  occasion  required,  and  worked  the  brakes  on  the  locomotive  and 
tender  by  a  long  lever  which  extended  up  between  his  knees.  There 
was  no  bell-cord  nor  gong  on  the  locomotive,  so  all  communication  be- 
tween engineer  and  brakeman  was  by  word  of  mouth.  All  these 
original  features  are  retained  in  the  restored  engine.  The  body  of  the 
locomotive  and  the  tender  is  painted  an  olive  green ;  the  remainder  of 
the  iron  work  is  the  natural  color,  unbroken  by  the  brass  or  nickel  bear- 
ings of  the  present  day. 

The  John  Bull  weighs  22,000  pounds,  exclusive  of  the  tender,  and 
32,200  including  the  tender.  The  ordinary  standard  passenger  locomo- 
tive in  use  on  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  at  the  present  time  weighs 
176,000  pounds,  or  more  than  five  times  as  much  as  its  original 
predecessor. 

The  Coaches  Described 

The  old  coaches  present  many  reminders  of  their  predecessors  of 
the  road  before  iron  rails  were  known.  They  are,  indeed,  but  an  ad- 
vanced development  of  the  stage  coach.  No  space  is  wasted  in  their 
construction.  They  are  low  in  height  and  narrow  in  width,  being  but 
30  feet  long,  eight  feet  wide,  and  six  feet  five  inches  high  inside.  The  in- 
terior finish  is  severely  plain.  There  is  an  entire  absence  of  any  attempt 
at  ornamentation  of  any  kind.  The  roof  has  no  ridge  for  ventilating 
purposes,  as  in  cars  of  the  present  time,  bu-t  is  slightly  convexed,  the 


380  TRANSPORTATION   BUILDING. 

surface  being  covered  with  a  figured  cloth.  Ventilation  is  secured  by 
adjustable  slats  above  the  windows. 

The  20  double  seats,  which  are  very  narrow,  and  the  four  single  ones, 
are  made  of  boards  upholstered  with  a  grayish  material  similar  to  the 
stuff  used  in  old  stage-coaches.  The  backs  are  devoid  of  upholstery, 
with  the  exception  of  the  band  at  the  top  to  support  the  shoulders.  The 
aisles  are  very  narrow,  as  are  the  double  doors,  and  it  seems  a  problem 
how  the  crinoline  of  our  grandmothers  could  accommodate  itself  to  the 
narrow  confines  accorded  it.  There  are  no  toilet  rooms,  nor  any  pro- 
vision for  drinking  water. 

The  cars,  like  the  locomotive,  are  painted  a  rich  olive-green,  and  bear 
no  lettering  of  any  kind.  The  coaches  weigh  14,250  pounds,  and  are 
mere  pigmies  beside  the  90,000  pound  Pullmans  of  the  present  day. 

How  Tracks  Used  to  be  Laid. 

Still  more  interesting,  if  possible,  is  a  collection  of  old  railroad  mater- 
ial sent  in  a  special  car  from  the  Smithsonian  Institute.  It  consists  of  a 
number  of  specimens  of  articles  in  use  as  far  back  as  1830  or  1831.  Old 
signals,  wooden  engine  and  car  wheels,  strap  rails,  and  primitive 
switches  and  crossings  are  exhibited,  but  the  most  interesting  article  is 
a  section  of  track  laid  in  1831  on  the  Camden  and  Amboy  Railroad 
The  rails  are  about  the  size  of  those  used  in  mines  for  small  hand  cars. 
The  ties  are  blocks  of  granite  about  two  feet  wide,  laid  three  to  each 
rail.  The  stone  sleepers  are  provided  each  with  two  holes,  or,  when 
they  come  at  the  joint  of  two  rails,  with  four  holes.  In  these  holes  were 
driven  locust  wood  plugs  and  the  rails  were  fastened  down  by  spikes 
driven  into  the  locust  plugs.  When  they  fastened  a  rail  in  that  way 
in  1831  it  was  expected  to  stay.  The  rails  themselves  were  held  to- 
gether by  single  fish-plates  at  each  joint,  to  which  they  were  riveted  with 
hot  rivets.  This  was  to  make  the  track  very  rigid,  the  possibility  of 
rails  wearing  out  never  occurring  to  railroad  men  in  1831,  since  at  that 
time  none  had  ever  given  out. 

There  is  hardly  an  article  among  the  thousands  of  exhibits  of  the 
Smithonian  Institute  that  is  not  intensely  interesting,  not  only  to  rail- 
road people,  but  to  the  general  public,  though  they  must  be  seen  to  be 
appreciated. 

Palaces  on  Wheels. 

f 

There  are  twelve  magnificently  equipped  coaches  and  thirty-five  freight 
cars,  embracing  every  variety,  by  the  leading  builders  in  the  country. 
The  feature  of  the  Pullman  exhibit  that  draws  crowds  is  the  train,  with 


TRANSPORTATION   BUILDING.  381 

its  rich  furnishings,  wonderful  and  plentiful  carving,  and  conveniences 
that  characterize  palaces  instead  of  public  coaches  ordinarily.  To  go 
through  it  and  then  look  at  the  primeval  locomotives  in  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  exhibit  on  the  adjacent  tracks  makes  it  hardly  possible  to  be- 
lieve that  all  that  progress  has  been  made  in  fifty  years.  The  show  in- 
cludes a  train  of  eight  superb  cars,  at  the  head  of  which  stands  a  large 
Baldwin  locomotive,  painted  and  decorated  in  harmony  with  the  outside 
finish  of  the  cars.  The  rear  of  the  tender  of  this  locomotive  is  vesti- 
buled.  The  locomotive  itself  is  a  duplicate  of  the  one  which  has  at- 
tained a  speed  of  ninety-seven  miles  in  an  hour.  The  exhibit  also  con- 
tains five  handsome  street  cars.  The  Pennsylvania  Railroad  exhibit 
consists  of  a  perfectly  equipped  station ;  it  contains  a  large  number  of 
photographs  of  scenes  on  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  ;  this  company  also 
exhibits  a  superb  coach  and  three  freight  cars  of  its  own  build. 

Among  the  other  attractions  are  two  Leslie  rotary  snow  ploughs,  a 
centrifugal  snow  excavator  and  a  Russell  snow  plough,  four  steam 
shovels  and  a  locomotive  traveling  crane,  a  light  and  heat  tender  of  the 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul  Railroad  and  the  dynamometer,  for 
measuring  power,  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy  road. 

Curious  Old-Timers. 

All  this  represents  steam  transportation  as  it  is  now,  but  the  most  fas- 
cinating part  of  the  railway  show  is  the  display  of  relics,  models,  old 
engines  and  cars  and  specimens  of  the  quaint  roadways  of  the  earlier 
days.  It  is  the  first  time  that  such  a  work  has  been  undertaken,  and 
Mr.  T.  Hackworf.h,  of  the  railway  department,  has  gathered  a  complete 
historical  collection.  For  instance,  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad 
has  made  an  extensive  historical  exhibit,  which  includes  about  thirty 
full  size  wooden  models  of  the  earliest  locomotives  built  in  this  country 
and  in  England,  with  samples  of  original  tracks.  Three  of  the  Grass- 
hopper type  of  engine,  the  old  locomotives  of  "  Samson  "  and  "  Albion," 
built  in  England  and  shipped  to  Nova  Scotia  in  1838,  and  other  speci- 
mens of  the  very  early  locomotives  are  among  the  attractions. 

The  company  has  secured  many  valuable  original  documents,  draw- 
ings, photographs,  pictures  of  the  early  inventors,  way  bills,  time  tables, 
tickets  and  passes  indicating  the  method  of  transacting  railroad  business 
when  railroads  were  still  in  their  infancy. 

It  would  take  many  pages  of  this  work  to  enumerate  in  detail  the 
systems  of  signalling,  methods  of  track  construction,  engines  and  car 
equipment.  The  Westinghouse  and  New  York  Air  Brake  Companies 
have  elaborate  exhibits.  Pumps  and  signalling  apparatus  are  shown  in 


382  TRANSPORTATION   BUILDING. 

action.  The  Eclipse  Wind  Engine  Company,  of  Beloit,  Wis.,  show  a 
complete  water  station.  A  sixty-foot  iron  turntable,  a  seventy-foot  elec- 
tric transfer  table,  track  scales  and  pneumatic  crossing  gates  are  among 
the  exhibits  in  operation.  On  the  main  floor  the  Rand,  McNally  Com- 
pany has  a  ticket  office  and  Thomas  Cook  &  Sons  a  tourist  office,  K~~li 
elaborately  gotten  up. 

Rapid  Transit  Exhibits. 

No  topic  is  so  widely  discussed  in  American  cities  to-day  as  the  ques- 
tion of  rapid  transit  through  the  streets  of  cities  and  towns,  and  this  sub- 
ject is  completely  illustrated.  Ther^  are  twenty  cars  by  leading  builders 
with  many  varieties  of  motive  power — horse,  cable,  steam,  electric,  gas 
and  compressed  air.  The  original  cable  car,  by  A.  S.  Hallidie,  of  San 
Francisco,  is  among  the  exhibits.  Street  railway  track  construction, 
iron  and  steel  wire  cables,  electric  motor  tracks  and  everything  pertaining 
to  street  railways  is  practically  demonstrated.  A  diminutive  steam  rail- 
way of  eight  inches  gauge,  with  engines  and  cars  complete,  each  car 
having  a  capacity  of  three  passengers,  is  shown  in  operation  on  tracks 
800  feet  long  outside  of  the  building.  Several  models  of  elevated  rail- 
way structures  with  electric  trains  are  seen  in  different  parts  of  the  hall. 

Solid  Mahogany  Train   from   Canada. 

The  Canadian  Pacific  railway's  solid  mahogany  train  of  five  cars,  ves- 
tibuled  throughout,  attracts  much  attention.  The  train  was  built  espe- 
cially to  be  shown  at  the  Fair.  The  train  consists  of  a  locomtive,  sleep- 
ing, dinner,  first-class,  second-class  and  baggage  car,  all  the  cars  except 
that  for  baggage  being  Honduras  white  mahogany.  The  baggage  car 
is  of  cherry.  The  coaches  are  polished  until  their  sides  and  doors  glisten 
like  mirrors.  This  train,  with  the  addition  of  the  model  of  a  steamboat 
from  the  line  operated  in  connection  with  the  road  and  a  large  number 
of  photographs  of  scenery  along  the  line,  constitutes  the  exhibit  of  the 
Canadian  Pacific  railway. 

The  train  is  one  of  the  handsomest  that  ever  pulled  into  Chicago.  It 
stands  by  the  side  of  a  similar  train  from  the  London  and  Northwestern 
railway  of  England,  which  is  said  to  have  the  best  compartment  cars  in 
Europe.  The  idea  of  putting  the  trains  alongside  is  to  contrast  the  sys- 
tems of  England  and  America.  The  sleeping  car  of  the  Canadian  Pacific 
train  is  in  white  mahogany,  with  sage  green  plush  trimmings.  The  in- 
terior is  of  the  Spanish  renaissance  architecture.  Old  bronze  is  used  for 
all  the  metal  finishings.  The  ceilings  are  paneled,  and  all  the  glass  is  of  the 
plated  and  beveled  variety.  The  car  weighs  94,000  pounds  and  carries  forty- 
four  passengers.  It  contains  eight  sections  and  two  state  rooms  en  suite. 


TRANSPORTATION   BUILDING.  383 

Vast   Marine    Exhibit. 

Among  the  railway  bridge  models  are  those  of  the  Firth  Bridge,  near 
Edinburgh,  and  the  Mississippi  River  Bridge  at  Memphis.  In  fact,  the 
railway  exhibit  is  replete  with  every  appliance  known  to  modern  rail- 
roading, besides  being  an  illustrated  history  of  the  progress  and  develop- 
ment of  the  railwiy  from  its  first  inception  to  the  present  day. 

In  no  previous  marine  exhibit  has  the  question  of  transportation  on 
water  ever  been  treated  as  a  subject,  but  in  this  department  are  shown 
not  only  the  triumphs  of  naval  architecture,  as  illustrated  by  the  modern 
ocean  greyhound  and  battle  ship,  but  also  strange  and  curious  crafts 
from  semi-civilized  and  barbarous  tribes,  showing  how  they  solved  prob- 
lems of  transportation  by  taking  advantage  of  the  materials  on  hand, 
whether  of  bark  or  logs  of  wood  or  skins  of  animals. 

There  is  a  complete  exhibit  from  Alaska  and.  the  Aleutian  islands, 
consisting  of  two  hatch  bydarka,  with  complete  hunting  outfits,  and 
from  the  sea  coast  of  Norton  Sound  a  hatch  bydarka,  with  the  full  outfit 
used  in  both  hunting  and  fishing ;  birch  bark  canoes  from  the  Upper 
Yukon  River ;  sleds,  dogs'  harness  and  all  that  goes  with  them.  The 
Hudson  Bay  country  shows  all  the  methods  of  water  transportation 
known  in  that  country.  From  Southwest  Alaska  or  Queen  Charlotte's 
Island  are  a  tingit  canoe  and  a  large  dugout  and  haida  canoe. 

An  Australian  Canoe. 

From  Australia  comes  an  interesting  canoe  made  from  a  single  sheet 
of  what  is  commonly  known  as  the  gum  topped  iron  bark  or  mountain 
ash,  the  ends  being  tied  up.  The  natives  in  the  interior  use  the  bark 
from  the  convex  side  of  a  crooked  tree  and  stop  the  ends  with  a  ball  of 
mud  instead  of  tying  them  up.  This  canoe  is  called  "  gree,"  signifying 
"  property,"  and  comes  from  the  Lake  Tyers  Aboriginal  Station,  Gipps- 
land,  Australia.  It  is  used  for  both  hunting  and  fishing  and  for 
transportation. 

China  is  represented  by  models  of  every  boat  used  on  Chinese  waters, 
both  sea  coast  and  inland.  These  boats,  although  the  architecture 
seems  to  be  grotesque,  have  many  peculiar  points,  such  as  the  movable 
rudder  and  the  fashion  of  attaching  the  sheet  to  the  sail,  making  it 
possible  to  draw  the  surface  very  flat. 

The  Strait  Settlements  and  Ceylon  are  also  well  represented  by 
fantastic  models.  A  peculiar  boat  in  Ceylon  is  the  machva,  which  is 
celebrated  for  its  speed.  It  is  the  swiftest  of  all  East  Indian  boats.  It 
cannot  tack,  however,  like  an  ordinary  vessel,  but  must  wear  around  to 


384 


TRANSPORTATION   BUILDING. 


get  the  wind  upon  the  opposite  side.  Its  special  feature  is  the  keel,  the 
shape  of  which  is  at  variance  with  all  recognized  rules  of  naval  archi- 
tecture. Instead  of  being  straight  or  convex,  the  keel  has  an  archlike 
form,  rising  in  the  middle  and  curving  downward  at  the  ends  in  deep, 


\\\ 


MODELS   OF   WAR  VESSELS — TRANSPORTATION   BUILDING. 

angular,  fin-like  projections,  the  forward  one  being  deepest.  This 
curious  keel  serves  as  a  double  centre-board.  Its  object  appears  to  be 
to  carry  sail  well  forward  so  that  the  whole  of  the  craft  aft  to  amidships 
may  be  free  for  the  stowage  and  manipulation  of  the  net.  The  rig 
consists  of  a  single  settee  sail  bent  to  a  long  yard  that  is  hoisted  upon  a 
short  mast  stepped  amidships  and  raking  sharply  forward. 


TRANSPORTATION   BUILDING.  335 

A  Ceylon  Catamaran. 

A  catamaran  is  shown  that  has  carried  the  mail  around  Ceylon  for  a 
number  of  years,  as  well  as  one  of  the  celebrated  outrigger  canoes. 
These  boats  carry  an  enormous  sail  and  the  men  climb  out  on  the  out- 
rigger 10  prevent  the  boat  from  capsizing,  and  its  breezes  are  known  as 
a  one  man,  two  man  or  three  man  breeze,  according  to  the  quantity  of 
weight  necessary  to  put  on  the  outrigger.  Mediterranean  craft  are 
represented  and  there  are  peculiar  canoes  from  the  west  coast  of  Africa. 

From  South  America  comes  the  Jangada,  a  large  balsa-shaped  boat 
used  in  the  vicinity  of  Pernambuco ;  a  war  canoe  from  the  Amazon ; 
the  cascarra,  made  from  a  single  piece  of  bark  and  entirely  unlike  all 
birch  bark  canoes,  from  the  Orinoco.  There,  are  also  slender  and  swift 
dugouts  from  the  same  locality;  balsas  from  Lake  Titicaca,  made  of 
straw  and  bound  together  by  wisps — the  only  method  of  water  con- 
veyance known  to  the  people  of  that  region.  Here  you  find  bungos, 
curious  shaped  canoes  from  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  and  many  others 
quite  as  interesting. 

Of  course  the  North  American  Indian  and  his  birch  bark  canoe  are 
features  not  only  in  this  building,  but  also  in  the  south  pond,  with  the 
Indian  himself  paddling. 

Thanks  to  the  energetic  co-operation  of  the  American  representatives 
abroad  and  the  interest  taken  by  the  British  Commission,  the  principal 
ship  building  firms  have  sent  a  magnificent  collection  of  models  of  all 
kinds.  The  period  of  iron  ship  building  is  well  represented,  both  in  the 
models  of  passenger  and  freight  steamers  as  well  as  in  the  collection  of 
British  men-of-war.  Unfortunately  the  period  after  the  restoration^  of 
Charles  II.  and  through  the  Napoleonic  wars  is  not  included,  for  with 
models  of  the  great  three-decked  sailing  battle  ships  which  were  for  so 
many  years  England's  bulwark  of  strength  the  history  of  the  navy 
would  be  reasonably  complete.  At  the  same  time  Spain  sends  the 
treasures  of  the  Royal  Museum  and  the  models  of  the  Invincible 
Armada,  so  that  the  ships  of  the  time  of  the  famous  battle  are  shown. 

The  Rarest   Relic  of  All. 

In  the  winter  of  1879-80  a  Norwegian  sailor  living  in  Sandefjord 
employed  his  leisure  time  during  the  winter  months  in  exploring  a  sand 
hill  or  mound  on  the  outskirts  of  the  village.  It  was  called  "  Kings- 
mound,''  and  the  traditions  of  the  townsfolk  had  it  that  a  viking,  or 
Norse  pirate,  was  buried  there  with  all  his  earthly  belongings,  a  part  of 
which  was  necessarily  a  ship  and  its  fittings. 
25 


385  TRANSPORTATION   BUILDING. 

The  sailor,  however,  determined  to  satisfy  himself  of  this  point  and 
began  digging.  He  dug  a  square  hole,  and  had  not  entered  many  feet 
when  his  spade  struck  a  solid  oak  plank,  which,  on  further  investiga- 
tion, proved  to  be  the  side  of  a  ship.  The  experts  in  the  Royal  Uni- 
versity in  Christiania  inspected  the  relic  and  pronounced  it  to  be  a  vik- 
ing ship,  but  of  what  age  it  was  impossible  to  determine  until  the  warm 
weather  of  May  and  June  had  sufficiently  thawed  out  the  earth  to  make 
further  investigations  possible.-  In  the  early  summer  the  entire  mound 
was  cleared  away,  and  revealed  a  viking  ship  in  good  condition,  and  in 
it  was  a  skeleton  of  a  man  incased  in  armor  and  surrounded  Avith  oars 
and  other  things  belonging  to  the  ship.  The  articles  in  the  ship  with 
the  armor  on  the  skeleton  determined  the  age  of  the  ship  at  about  900 
years.  All  the  woodwork  was  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  It  was 
decided  that  this  must  have  been  the  kind  of  a  craft  in  which  Lief  Erick- 
son  made  his  voyage  to  the  North  American  continent  nearly  1,000 
years  ago.  The  viking  ship  was  repaired  and  removed  to  the  Univer- 
sity at  Christiania.  In  1891  it  was  suggested  that  it  would  be  proper 
at  the  4Ooth  anniversary  of  the  landing  of  Columbus  in  America  to 
prove  that  the  voyage  of  Lief  Erickson  from  Norway  and  Iceland  to  the 
New  England  coast  was  perfectly  feasible,  and  it  was  decided  to  repro- 
duce the  viking  ship,  equip  her  as  nearly  as  possible  like  the  original, 
man  her  and  send  her  to  the  United  States,  unaccompanied  by  any 
steamer  or  ship  of  any  kind. 

The  dimensions  of  the  ship  are  \J%  feet  over  all,  16^  feet  beam, 
while  the  distance  from  the  upper  side  of  the  keelson  to  the  railing  is 
5^  feet.  The  bow  and  stern  are  higher  than  amidships,  and  there  is  no 
deck  of  any  kind.  It  is  twenty-seven  tons.  A  peculiarity  of  her  con- 
struction is  that  her  planks  are  "  clinker "  built  or  overlap,  like  the 
weather-boarding  of  a  house.  There  are  thirty-two  oars  and  rowlocks, 
and  each  oar  is  17  feet  long.  Little  sail  is  carried,  for  the  old  vikings 
depended  more  on  their  oars  than  on  the  wind.  It  was  for  this  reason 
that  their  ships  were  built  so  light  and  had  such  graceful  lines. 

Cunard  Company's  Exhibit. 

In  the  merchant  marine  section  the  Cunard  Steamship  Company 
shows  models  of  the  Umbria,  Etruria  (8,000  tons)  and  the  new  ships 
built  and  engined  in  1892,  while  the  royal  mail  service  between  England 
and  South  Africa  is  shown  by  Donald,  Currie  &  Co.  The  Laird  Broth- 
ers, of  Birkenhead,  exhibit  a  collection  of  models  and  pictures  illustra- 
ting the  progress  of  iron  shipbuilding  from  1834  to  the  present  time — 
paddle  steamers,  screw  steamers  and  a  full  line  of  models, 


TRANSPORTATION   BUILDING.  387 

A  most  interesting  exhibit  is  made  by  the  Peninsular  and  Oriental 
Steam  Navigation  Company.  The  Atlantic  Transport  Line  shows 
models  of  the  screw  steamers  Massachusetts,  Manitoba,  Mohawk  and 
Mobile,  furnished  with  all  appliances  for  the  carriage  of  passengers,  live 
stock,  dead  meat  and  cargo  of  all  descriptions.  There  is  also  an  inter- 
esting model  sent  by  Furness,  Withy  &  Co.  of  a  steamer  400  feet  long, 
48  beam,  30  feet  draught,  built  of  steel  on  a  web  frame  system,  with  cel- 
lular double  bottom  capable  of  carrying  6,500  tons  of  dead  weight. 

This  is  only  an  indication  of  what  the  marine  exhibit  from  Great 
Britain  is.  No  such  display  has  ever  been  attempted  in  the  United 
States,  and  especially  in  an  inland  city  like  Chicago.  Many  of  the 
models  have  figured  in  various  naval  exhibitions  in  Great  Britain  and  are 
familiar  to  those  especially  interested  in  naval  architecture.  But  the 
general  public  is  surprised  upon  entering  the  golden  door  of  the  Trans- 
portation Building  to  see  near  the  entrance  on  the  main  court  a  collec- 
tion of  models  the  like  of  which  has  never  been  brought  together  in  this 
country. 

Section  of  an  "Ocean  Greyhound." 

A  striking  feature  has  been  furnished  by  the  International  Navigation 
Company,  which  built  on  the  main  court  a  section  of  one  of  their  new 
steamers.  Imagine  the  longitudinal  and  transverse  section  of  a  ship 
abaft  the  smokestack  69  feet  long  and  38.6  in  beam.  The  interior  fit- 
tings, furnishings  and  decoration  are  the  same  as  used  on  the  magnificent 
steamers  of  that  line.  This  is  the  most  interesting  exhibit,  showing 
fully  the  facilities  of  those  vessels  for  the  comfort  of  ocean. 

The  Bethlehem  Iron  Company  have  reproduced  their  enormous  125- 
ton  hammer,  and  at  its  base  is  displayed  armor  plate,  guns,  shafting  of 
vessels,  steel  ingots,  and  so  on.  The  Gas  Engine  and  Power  Company, 
of  New  York,  show  a  number  of  beautiful  naphtha  launches.  The 
Harlan  &  Hollingsworth  Company,  of  Wilmington,  Del.,  make  an 
exhibit  of  models  of  different  types  of  ships,  steamboats,  steam  and 
sailing  yachts,  built  from  the  commencement  of  its  foundation — 1836 — 
down  to  the  present  time.  They  also  exhibit  a  working  model  of  a 
typical  engine.  As  a  frieze  above  the  model  is  shown  a  marine  painting 
on  which  forty-two  boats  are  to  be  seen,  showing  ':he  progress  made  in 
ships,  yachts  and  steamboats  built  by  this  firm. 

Wheeled  Vehicles  of  Every  Kind. 

But  if  railways  and  ships  are  interesting,  what  is  to  be  said  of  the 
wheeled  vehicles  ?  The  floor  space  occupied  by  this  division  embraces 


388  TRANSPORTATION  BUILDING. 

130,000  square  feet,  and  it  is  all  fitted  up  with  new  wood  carpet  in  white 
oak  strips,  laid  out  in  handsome  patterns  and  finished  in  oil.  Each  space  is 
surrounded  with  handsome  ornamental  brass  railing  and  posts.  This 
exhibit  occupies  the  entire  north  end  of  the  Main  Building  and  the 
annex  and  about  one-half  of  the  north  gallery  in  the  Main  Building. 

On  the  first  floor  are  exhibited  carriages,  wagons  and  vehicles  of  every 
description.  In  the  gallery  are  displayed  bicycles,  carriages  and  wagon 
hardware  and  saddlery  goods.  There  is  a  historical  array  of  vehicles, 
saddlery  goods  and  bicycles.  An  effort  was  made  to  show  the  evolution 
of  these  industries  from  their  primitive  origins  down  to  the  present  time. 

For  this  purpose  a  large  collection  was  made  by  Chief  Smith  in 
foreign  lands,  from  the  ancient  chariot  that  antedates  Christ  to  the  latest 
thing  out. 

There  is  shown  everything  from  the  old  Mexican  cart  drawn  by  oxen 
and  the  first  bicycle  ever  made  to  the  finest  royal  and  family  carnage 
that  the  modern  builder  can  produce.  The  luxurious  and  useful  modern 
brougham,  which  the  celebrated  makers  of  the  world  are  displaying, 
stands  alongside  the  old  deacon's  celebrated  "  one  horse  shay."  There 
is  a  bewildering  collection  of  carts  and  harness  from  Palermo,  land 
sledges  from  Punchal,  a  calache  from  Quebec,  and  a  volante  from  Cuba. 
The  ox  and  the  ass  appear  in  various  burden  bearing  capacities,  and  the 
harness  and  saddlery  abound  in  most  useful  and  economical  forms  as 
well  as  in  the  elegant  and  even  fantastic  styles. 

The  human  pack  animal  has  not  been  forgotten.  He  appears  as  the 
Cargadores  of  South  America  and  the  street  carrier  of  the  Orient. 
There  are  palanquins,  traveling  hammocks,  and  sedans  from  remote 
corners  of  the  globe  as  well  as  of  remote  times,  illustrating  how  one 
class  of  mankind  drudges  that  another  may  ride  in  luxury. 

All  Sorts  of  Carriages. 

In  modern  carriages  there  is  everything  from  a  baby  carriage  up  to 
the  finest  carriage  that  has  been  built.  Some  of  these  vehicles  cost 
$10,000  each  and  are  really  works  of  art.  Foreign  countries  contribute 
to  this  division,  France  having  sent  fifty  carriages  from  her  best  builders. 
Austria  sent  eighteen  carriages  from  six  of  her  best  manufacturers. 
England  and  Germany  also  make  large  exhibits,  so  that  the  industry  of 
both  continents  is  well  represented. 

In  the  foreign  collection  of  historical  exhibits  from  London  is  a  Lord 
Mayor's  state  coach,  a  drag  that  belonged  to  the  Prince  of  Wales  and 
an  old  chariot.  A  sedan  chair  from  Columbia  stands  beside  one  from 


TRANSPORTATION  BUILDING.  389 

Turkey,  and  near  by  are  a  jinrikisha  from  Japan,  a  carriage  once  owned 
by  President  Polk,  and  the  coach  of  Daniel  Webster,  bought  in  1808. 

In  the  saddlery  department  is  a  display  of  saddles,  bits,  stirrups  and 
trappings  of  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries  collected  through- 
out Europe,  including  a  pair  of  silver  spurs  taken  from  the  feet  of  Sir 
Thomas  Picton  when  he  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Waterloo. 

Superb  Display  of  Bicycles. 

In  the  bicycle  division  there  is  presented  an  extraordinary  display. 
The  fittings  alone  cost  more  than  $100,000,  and  some  of  the  pavilions 
cost  exhibitors  from  $10,000  to  $12,000  each.  There  is  displayed  in 
this  exhibit  not  only  the  finest  bicycle  that  has  ever  been  produced  up 
to  the  present  time,  but  bicycles  representing  wheels  that  date  back  to 
the  first  machine  built,  showing  the  complete  evolution  of  the  industry. 

The  bicycle  exhibitors  number  fifty,  and  some  of  the  pavilions  erected 
by  them  are  the  finest  to  be  seen  on  the  grounds.  In  this  exhibit  may 
be  seen  every  style  of  wheel,  from  the  first  manufactured  to  the  modern 
pneumatic.  It  is  a  great  show  for  the  thousands  of  people  who  in  this 
day  and  generation  are  happiest  when  tramping  the  treadles.  One  of 
the  queerest  looking  inventions  in  this  department  is  a  bicycle  made  by 
a  Missouri  boy,  modeled  after  the  style  of  pictures  that  he  had  seen. 
Are  you  a  bicycle  crank  ?  Then  here  you  can  revel  to  your  heart's 
delight.  The  controversy  between  cushion  and  pneumatic  tires  is  set- 
tled, and  except  to  illustrate  progress  in  manufacture  the  cushion  tire  is 
in  the  rear  ground.  Pneumatics  of  all  sizes,  degrees  and  conditions  are 
here.  There  are  fifty  different  kinds,  and  each  is  the  best.  If  you 
doubt  it  ask  the  gentlemanly  attendant.  He  may  be  French,  German, 
Russian  or  Turk,  for  wheels  from  the  four  quarters  of  the  globe  are 
exhibited,  but  in  more  or  less  of  a  brogue  he  will  send  you  away  con- 
vinced of  the  superiority  of  his  wheel  until  you  are  in  turn  convinced 
by  the  next  gentlemanly  attendant. 

The  story  of  what  may  be  seen  in  the  Transportation  Department 
•nay  be  continued  indefinitely  and  still  never  be  told.  There  is  so  much 
-o  attract  the  attention,  please  the  eye,  interest  the  mind  and  develop 
the  thought  that  one  becomes  bewildered  in  the  midst  of  it  all.  The 
Transportation  Building  itself  is  unique  in  architecture  and  not  easy  to 
describe.  Its  gorgeous  exterior  decoration  and  its  superb  golden  door- 
way identify  it  at  once.  Its  location  on  the  western  bank  of  the  central 
lagoon,  looking  out  over  the  wooded  island,  brings  it  directly  in  the 
highway  of  the  greatest  travel.  Its  front  bears  the  names  of  illustrious 
railway  and  marine  inventors. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


Mines   and    Mining   Building. 

THE  mining  exhibit  at  the  World's  Fair  has  never  been  equalled 
at  any  Exposition.     At  Philadelphia,  in  Paris  and  at  the  other 
big  shows  of  this  character  mining  has  had  a  pavilion  to  it- 
self, but  it  has  never  been  made  a  feature.      At  Chicago  there 
is  a  splendid  collection,  including  some  thirteen  thousand  exhibits,  illus- 
trating all  the 
valuables  that 
man   extracts 
f  r  o  m      the 
earth. 

Not  only 
are  the  pro- 
cesses shown 
by  which  the 
crude  ore  is 
fashioned,  but 
the  methods 
by  which  the 
ore  is  taken 
from  the 

ground  and  treated  are  explained  by 
costly  working  models.  There  are  few 
things  about  mining  that  cannot  be  learned 
in  the  building  700  feet  long  by  350  wide 
set  apart  for  this  study. 

In  design  the  Mining  Building  is  of  the 
early  Italian  Renaissance.  It  is  admirably 
adapted  to  the  purpose  for  which  it  is 
used,  as  the  light  is  excellent.  There  are 
four  big  entrances.  The  gallery  is  sixty 
feet  wide  and  twenty-five  feet  above  the 
main  floor.  It  has  a  floor  space  of  103,000 
square  feet.  Along  the  centre  of  the 
building  are  two  rows  of  cantilever  trusses,  115  feet  apart,  supporting 

390 


STATUE  REPRESENTING  CAPITAL, 
MINES  AND  MINING  BUILDING. 


MINES  AND   MINING   BUILDING.  391 

the  roof,  the  only  other  incumbrance  on  the  floor  being  the  posts 
that  support  the  gallery.  This  leaves  a  vast  amount  of  free  space,  and 
it  has  been  utilized  to  the  best  advantage  by  the  chief  of  the  depart- 
ment, F.  J.  Skiff,  and  his  assistant,  Edward  L.  Burchard. 

At  first  Mr.  Skiff  wondered  what  he  would  do  with  the  vast  amount 
of  space  at  his  disposal.  Later,  when  the  foreign  countries  and  the 
states  began  to  tell  him  how  much  space  they  needed,  he  wondered  how 
he  would  crowd  so  much  that  was  coming  into  such  a  comparatively 
small  area.  All  the  exhibitors  wanted  to  show  their  specimens  collec- 
tively, so  that  it  was  not  possible  to  classify  the  greater  part  of  the  dis- 
play according  to  its  character.  It  is  arranged,  therefore,  geographically, 
all  the  exhibits  of  a  nation  or  of  a  state  being  together.  This  does  not 
apply  to  the  groups,  which  are  arranged  in  museum  fashion  in  the 

galleries. 

In  Bullion  Boulevard. 

Through  the  centre,  of  the  building  runs  a  street  twenty  feet  wide, 
which  has  been  named  Bullion  Boulevard.  To  the  west  of  this  is  the 
space  reserved  for  foreign  countries.  To  the  east  are  the  exhibits  of  the 
states  and  territories  and  under  the  east  gallery  all  the  exhibits  of  min- 
ing machinery.  In  the  west  gallery  are  the  technical  collections  of 
minerals  and  metals,  and  in  the  east  gallery  are  grouped  such  products 
of  the  earth  as  clays  and  cements. 

Taking  up  the  countries  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  placed  along 
Bullion  Avenue,  the  first  exhibit  is  that  of  France.  It  is  contained  in 
9,000  square  feet.  It  shows  the  minerals  and  metals  of  the  great 
Republic,  all  classified  in  the  most  artistic  manner.  A  Parisian  asphalt 
company  has  put  up  a  handsome  pavilion  in  which  the  processes  through 
which  their  material  passes  are  shown  and  explained. 

Great  Britain,  Canada  and  New  South  Wales  have  25,000  square  feet. 
The  last  named  colony  has  sent  the  choicest  things  that  she  ex- 
hibited in  the  Melbourne  Exposition.  Big  trophies  of  tin,  zinc  and 
coal  stand  in  her  space.  These  "  trophies  "  are  the  feature  of  the  min- 
ing exhibit.  All  over  the  building  they  can  be  found.  They  consist  of 
pyramids,  obelisks,  globes  and  shafts  of  all  sizes  and  shapes  of  the 
exhibits,  and  they  rise  up  at  intervals  all  over  the  floor.  New  South 
Wales  has  surprised  the  country  with  the  quality  of  the  coal.  Great 
Britain  shows  commercial  tin  and  interesting  samples  of  platinum.  A 
salt  firm  has  sent  a  model  of  the  Bartholdi  Statue  of  Liberty  in  salt. 

Nickel  from  Ontario. 
Ontario,  Canada,  makes  an  interesting  exhibit  of  nickel  from  the  ore 


392  MINES   AND   MINING   BUILDING. 

to  the  refined  product.  Canada  wears  a  nickel  belt  about  seventy  miles 
long  and  thirty  wide,  extending  from  the  Nipissing  country  to  Algoma. 
It  lies  almost  north  of  Georgian'  Bay,  and  is  as  near  to  Chicago  as  to 
Toronto.  A  vein  that  is  being  worked  now  is  six  to  twenty  feet  in 
thickness  and  of  uniform  depth.  Miners  have  gone  down  700  feet  and 
have  not  struck  bottom.  A  thousand  men  are  employed  in  this  indus- 
try. The  superintendent  of  the  exhibit  says  he  expects  to  see  the  day 
when  nickel  will  displace  tin  in  the  manufacture  of  the  common  house- 
hold utensils.  This  depends  upon  the  discovery  of  some  successful 
process  of  separating  the  copper  from  it ;  in  other  words,  of  refining  it. 
At  present  matte,  the  product  of  the  first  melting  of  ore,  has  to  be  sent 
to  Wales  for  refining  and  then  returned,  just  as  now  cotton  goes  to 
England  and  comes  back  to  us  in  cloth.  In  the  latter  case  it  is  a  mat- 
ter of  cheapness  in  manufacture ;  in  the  former,  a  matter  of  secret  pro- 
cess. 

They  are  trying  hard  in  New  Jersey  to  refine  nickel,  and  have  met 
with  limited  success.  The  choicest  exhibit  from  Ontario  is  a  solid 
block  of  pure  nickel  weighing  4,500  pounds  and  worth  $2,250.  There 
are  also  samples  of  the  ore  and  the  matte. 

Ontario  does  something  in  the  line  of  gold  mining  in  a  district  about 
eight  hundred  miles  long,  extending  from  Rat  Portage,  near  the  Mani- 
toba line,  to  the  Ottawa  valley.  The  free  gold  comes  principally  from 
the  region  of  the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  mainly  as  a  sulphide  or  sulphur- 
ette,  as  the  miners  call  it.  When  not  found  free,  it  is  usually  associated 
with  galena. 

Ontario  produces  a  good  deal  of  mica  of  all  colors,  and,  as  proof, 
shows  a  solid  block  of  it  ten  inches  thick,  weighing  1400  pounds. 
Other  ores  exhibited  are  iron,  silver,  lead,  copper,  zinc,  antimony,  mo- 
lybdenite, formerly  used  for  dyeing,  graphite  and  byrite,  used  in  the 
finest  of  high-class  wall  papers  and  similar  work. 

Germany's  Big  Showing. 

Germany  has  the  largest  European  representation.  On  the  main 
loor  she  has  taken  13,000  square  feet,  and  on  the  gallery  5,000.  Baron 
Stumm,  of  Saarbruck,  whose  iron  and  steel  works  are  second  only  to 
those  of  Krupp,  is  the  largest  exhibitor,  and  what  he  has  done  has  cost 
him  many  thousands  of  dollars.  He  had  no  intention  of  exhibiting,  as 
he  did  not  see  how  he  would  be  benefited,  until  Emperor  William  sug- 
gested that  it  would  be  a  good  idea  for  him  to  do  so.  This  was  almost 
equivalent  to  a  command,  and  the  Baron  built  a  large  brick  wall  reach- 
ing almost  to  the  roof  to  serve  as  a  background  for  his  display.  This 


MINES   AND   MINING   BUILDING.  393 

wall  is  faced  with  marble  panels  on  which  are  pictures  of  his  Saarbruck 
establishment.  On  the  top  is  a  mosaic  and  an  inscription  giving  the 
name  of  the  firm. 

Baron  Stumm  wanted  to  run  this  brick  wall  through  the  roof  and 
above  it ;  but  this  was  not  allowed.  There  was  some  objection  to  the 
wall  itself,  as  its  use  is  not  quite  clear.  If  there  were  a  fair  in  the  Madi- 
son Square  Garden,  New  York,  and  an  exhibitor  found  it  necessary  to 
build  a  wall  50  feet  long,  150  feet  wide  and  4  feet  thick,  to  serve  as  a 
background  to  his  wares,  he  would  be  doing  just  what  Baron  Stumm 
has  done.  But  no  one  wished  to  hurt  the  feelings  of  the  good  noble- 
man. ) 

An  enormous  pile  of  iron  drain  pipes  and  another  pile  of  architectural 
iron  girders  and  steel  rails  in  sections  are  the  most  striking  exhibits. 
The  sewer  pipes  are  coiled  around  very  adroitly,  and  the  architectural 
iron  is  arranged  in  the  form  of  a  tree.  This  work  is  of  more  interest  to 
engineers  than' to  the  public.  All  the  different  kinds  of  iron  things  that 
the  Baron  makes  are  there.  It  is  a  very  ponderous  assortment. 

In  the  galleries  are  the  contributions  of  the  technical  schools  of 
Berlin,  the  Freyburg  school  of  mines  and  other  eductional  displays. 

Brazil  has  a  colonnaded  pavilion,  in  which  are  shown  the  precious 
stones  of  the  Amazon  in  all  their  stages  and  the  work  of  the  geological 
survey  in  that  country.  The  pavilion  is  a  very  attractive  spot  to  the 
women.  Nearly  all  the  exhibits  are  in  different  pavilions.  Some  of 
them  are  of  heavy  stonework  and  cost  a  good  deal  of  money. 

Among  Diamond  Diggers. 

Cape  Colony  shows  the  output  of  the  Kimberley  diamond  mines.  A 
quantity  of  the  blue  earth  in  which  the  diamonds  are  found  was  sent  to 
this  country  to  be  worked  over  during  the  Fair.  There  are  two  or  three 
carloads  of  it  and  it  is  worth  $200,000.  It  is  stored  outside  the  building 
and  guarded  by  men  armed  with  enormous  pistols. 

A  force  of  Kaffirs  extract  the  diamonds.  First  of  all,  the  blue  earth 
is  transported  from  the  storage  place  to  the  South  African  pavilion  by 
means  of  an  underground  tramway  built  to  give  visitors  an  insight  into 
mining.  When  it  reaches  the  pavilion  it  passes  into  the  machinery 
used  to  pulverize  the  earth,  which  is  very  hard.  The  Kaffirs  sort  out 
the  diamond  pebbles.  At  night  they  guard  the  diamond  earth  to  pre- 
vent it  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  treacherous  whites.  Not  even 
a  Chicago  sandbagger  would  care  to  face  one  of  these  fierce  looking 
black  men,  who  have  been  warned  of  the  character  of  some  of  the  whites 
and  are  prepared  to  do  battle.  No  doubt  the  Kaffirs  are  themselves 


394  MINES  AND   MINING   BUILDING. 

watched,  as  there  are  people  who  would  think  nothing  of  making  a 
"  trust "  combine  with  them  to  get  gems. 

After  the  diamond  pebbles  have  been  found  by  the  Kaffirs  they  are 
passed  over  to  the  pavilion  of  a  New  York  jewelry  firm,  where  they  are 
cut  and  polished,  the  entire  process  being  shown  from  the  time  the 
diamond,  a  dull  looking  pebble,  is  taken  from  the  earth,  until  it  sparkles 
on  the  shirt  front  of  a  genteel  gambler. 

Gems  from  Mexico. 

Mexico  has  a  very  good  cabinet  display  of  her  minerals  and  gems 
that  was  selected  with  great  care  by  a  commission  appointed  by  the 
government.  Every  province  was  ransacked,  and  the  results  are  shown 
in  handsome  bronze  cases.  Our  neighbors  to  the  south  show  up  very 
creditably  in  the  mining  section.  Spain  shows  iron  ores,  coal  and 
quicksilver  ores. 

From  Japan  there  come  exhibits  showing  that  they  have  a  much 
higher  skill  in  metal  working  than  most  Americans  suppose.  Her 
exhibit  is  very  largely  copper  and  the  productions  of  skilled  metal 
workers  who  rank  very  high. 

Ores  from  the  Ural  Mountains  are  the  features  of  the  Russian  exhibit. 
There  is  a  large  trophy  to  give  dignity  to  the  Czar's  pavilion. 

Italy  shows  her  sulphur  and  her  fine  statuary  marble  in  a  very  hand- 
somely arranged  pavilion. 

Chili's   Olive    Branch. 

In  the  South  and  Central  American  countries  Chili  is  prominent  in 
spite  of  her  alleged  reluctance  to  make  friends  with  Uncle  Sam  after  the 
Baltimore  incident.  The  matter  is  best  understood,  however,  when  it  is 
known  that  the  exhibit  is  really  that  of  William  R.  Grace,  whose  firm 
pays  the  entire  expense  to  show  the  world  her  enormous  nitrate 
resources. 

Honduras  has  among  other  things  an  opalescent  grotto  containing  a 
native  Indian  opal  miner.  Without  the  aid  of  any  confederate,  and  with 
his  coat  rolled  up  so  that  nothing  can  be  concealed  up  his  sleeve,  this 
solitary  Indian  extracts  opals  from  the  side  of  the  grotto  and  then 
polishes  them.  If  there  is  anything  in  the  idea  that  opals  are  unlucky 
then  this  grotto  should  be  the  home  of  misfortune.  Imaginative  and 
superstitious  people  may  fancy  that  they  see  in  the  eye  of  this  Indian  a 
malevolent  look  as  he  sells  a  Chicago  man  fifty  cents'  worth  of 
his  opals. 

On  the  other  side  of  Bullion  Boulevard  is  a  long  row  of  the  pavilions 


MINES   AND   MINING  BUILDING.  395 

of  the  different  States.  Some  of  these  are  massive  structures  and 
apparently  quite  burglar-proof.  It  is  not  quite  clear  what  their  owners 
thought  they  would  have  to  contend  with  in  Chicago.  Diamond 
exhibitors,  of  course,  might  be  excused  for  building  big  walls,  but  the 
walls  are  found  to  be  quite  as  thick  when  the  article  shown  is  only  oil. 
It  must  be  that  all  men,  as  well  as  Baron  Stumm,  lean  toward  the 
substantial. 

Choice  Exhibits  from  Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvania  has  plenty  of  space.  She  shows  a  large  anthracite 
needle  ten  feet  square  at  the  base  and  sixty  two  feet  high,  the  number 
of  feet  representing  the  width  of  the  greatest  coal  seam  in  the  State. 
The  geological  survey,  those  young  men  who  go  through  the  State 
with  spyglasses  and  other  machinery,  human  conundrums  to  the  simple 
farmer,  have  sent  models  of  coal  mines  and  maps  of  the  State  showing 
such  enormous  qualities  of  coal  in  the  State,  that  visitors  go  up  to  the 
boss  of  the  Pennsylvania  pavilion  and  demand  to  know  why  coal  isn't 
ten  cents  a  ton. 

There  is  a  reproduction  in  this  section  of  the  Meri  Trott  coal  breaker, 
the  largest  in  the  world.  It  is  a  working  model,  and  it  shows  exactly 
how  coal  is  separated  into  different  sizes. 

North  Carolina's  pavilion  shows  a  very  good  collection  of  native 
gems.  Virginia  has  more  coal  and  iron  than  anything  else.  Her 
pavilion  has  for  entrances  three  arches  supported  by  four  square  parallel 
columns.  The  arches  bear  the  inscriptions  "  1607,"  "  Virginia,"  and 
"  1893."  This  State  produces  a  quantity  of  manganese,  lead,  zinc  and 
some  tin. 

New  York,  as  it  does  throughout  the  Fair,  makes  a  fine  display  in  the 
Mining  Building.  Her  space  is  bounded  by  colonnades  of  classic 
columns,  in  front  of  which  is  a  large  mineral  obelisk.  This  shows  the 
different  strata  found  in  the  State  as  far  down  as  the  archaean  or  vol- 
canic. This  idea,  a  very  excellent  one,  was  suggested  by  Professor 
James  Hall,  geologist,  and  carried  out  by  F.  J.  H.  Merrill,  curator  of 
the  museum  at  Albany.  Building  stone,  salt,  petroleum  and  natural  gas 
are  the  State's  "  mining"  products. 

Missouri's  Marvelous  Display. 

Missouri's  mineral  resources  are  shown  in  the  space  opposite  that  of 
Michigan.  The  front  of  the  pavilion  is  of  native  terra  cotta.  The 
arched  entrance  is  surmounted  by  the  arms  of  the  State. 

This  State  is  first  in  the  union  in  the  production  of  zinc  and  second  in 


396 


MINES   AND   MINING   BUILDING. 


that  of  lead  ;  consequently  the  ores  of  these  metals  are  the  feature. 
They  are  shown  most  prominently  in  a  pyramidal  structure  containing 
about  fourteen  tons  of  these  ores,  one  chunk  of  lead  ore  alone  weighing 
6,500  pounds.  Missouri  gave  to  the  arts  in  1892  132,000  tons  of  zinc 
and  32,000  tons  of  lead,  a  feat  of  which  she  is  proud.  Of  specimens  01 
small  size  there  are  from  7,000  to  10,000,  most  of  which  belong  to  the 
State;  others  are  mainly  loans,  although  a  few  individual  exhibitors  are 
represented.  The  State  appropriated  $15,000  for  this  exhibit,  and  it 
placed  the  task  of  making  a  suitable  collection  in  the  hands  of  E.  O. 
Hovey,  of  St.  Louis.  He  found  not  only  zinc  and  lead  worthy  of  exhi- 


MISSOURI'S  MINERAL  PAVILION —MINES  AND  MINING  BUILDING. 

bition,  but  some  twenty  varieties  of  marble,  besides  onyx  and  building 
stone  in  great  variety.  There  are  a  few  specimens  of  coal  and  iron  ores 
from  Iron  Mountain.  A  feature  of  the  exhibit  comprises  relief  maps, 
one  of  which  shows  the  working  of  the  mines  in  Iron  Mountain  ; 
another  reproduces  the  topography  of  the  entire  State. 

Perhaps  the  most  interesting  and  certainly  the  most  unique  of  all  the 
pavilion  elevations  erected  within  the  Mines  and  Mining  Building  is 
that  erected  by  Kentucky. 

The  State  that  has  in  the  past  based  its  reputation  upon  its  blue 
grass,  fast  horses,  good  whisky,  and  beautiful  women  now  aspires  to  be 


MINES   AND   MINING   BUILDING.  397 

known  as  a  mineral  producer.  Although  Kentucky  was  late  with  its 
appropriation  the  work  was  not  allowed  to  lag  by  the  State  Commis- 
sioners, and  after  the  Legislature  had  provided  $100,000  for  the  Fair 
the  work  went  rapidly  forward. 

Erected  on  the  front  line  of  the  space  allotted  the  State  is  a  facade  of 
polished  cannel  Kentucky  coal,  with  a  wide,  open  arch.  The  ornament, 
for  it  is  nothing  less  than  an  ornament,  is  twenty-three  feet  wide  and 
stands  twenty-five  feet  high.  Its  effect  is  heightened  by  the  elevation 
of  the  New  York  pavilion,  which  is  of  pure  white  marble,  and  occupies 
the  adjoining  space. 

The  Famous  Mammoth  Cave. 

The  mineral  exhibit  of  Kentucky  is  as  varied  in  character  as  are  the 
resources  of  the  State.  It  comprises  coal,  stone,  marble,  iron,  copper, 
gold,  and  silver.  All  these  are  displayed  to  the  best  advantage,  but  the 
great  feature  of  the  exhibit  is  the  reproduction  in  miniature  of  the  Mam- 
moth Cave. 

From  the  space  allotted  to  the  exhibit  on  the  floor  an  opening  leads 
to  a  chamber  beneath  the  Mines  Building.  This  is  made  to  represent 
the  cave,  great  attention  being  paid  to  the  details.  The  great  walls  are 
reproduced,  and  art  and  science  are  called  upon  to  make  perfect  the 
illusion.  The  negro  attendant  who  has  guided  so  many  thousands  of 
visitors  through  the  cave  is  here  to  explain,  as  only  he  can  explain,  the 
beauties  of  the  exhibit.  The  chamber  devoted  to  this  feature  is  two 
hundred  feet  by  fifty  in  dimensions. 

Sundry  Brands  of  Art. 

Ohio's  pavilion  is  of  colonnades  on  either  side  of  a  large  arched  en- 
trance, the  style  being  Romanesque.  It  will  be  observed  in  making  up 
the  artistic  summary  of  the  Mining  Building  that  the  exhibitors  have 
spared  no  pains  in  mixing  up  their  styles.  Baron  Stumm  may  have  a 
higher  brick  wall  than  any  of  the  American  States,  and  he  has,  but  for 
an  assortment  of  architectural  beauties  the  artist  must  turn  to  eclectic 
America.  Ohio's  pavilion  rests  on  a  base  of  native  building  stone.  Here 
and  there  are  freestones  and  samples  of  coal,  petroleum  and  clays. 

Michigan  has  undertaken  a  generous  display  of  copper  and  iron  ores, 
and  refined  copper,  and  an  exhibit  of  the  machinery  and  methods  of 
working  the  mines.  The  copper  mining  industry  of  the  northern  penin- 
sula has  reached  such  a  height  of  commercial  importance  in  the  world 
that  it  was  not  thought  necessary  or  becoming  at  first  to  take  any  part 
in  the  display  at  the  Exposition.  It  required  coaxing  from  the  State 


393  MINES   AND   MINING   BUILDING. 

Commissioners  to  secure  a  representation,  but  it  resulted  in  bringing  to 
the  Mines  Building  a  miniature  model  of  the  largest  copper  mine  and 
reducing  mills  in  the  world.  This  shows  a  section  of  the  mine's  system 
of  timbering,  the  method  of  handling  the  rock  from  the  time  it  is  exca- 
vated until  it  reaches  the  mill  and  is  crushed  and  the  particles  or  nuggets 
of  copper  separated  from  the  rock.  Beside  it  is  placed  a  model  sent  to 
the  Centennial  at  Philadelphia,  showing  as  great  improvement  in  the 
methods  of  mining  in  twenty  years  as  in  railroading. 

Welded  by  Electricity. 

A  mass  of  copper  ore,  almost  pure,  taken  from  a  mine  on  Keewenaw 
Point,  weighing  6,200  pounds,  and  another  8,500  pounds  are  on  the 
floor.  There  are  miles  upon  miles  of  drawn  copper  wire  and  rolled 
sheets  of  copper  as  bright  and  clear  as  a  polished  mirror.  Sections  of 
electrically  welded  copper  wire  are  shown,  illustrating  a  new  application 
of  that  universally  applied  force — electricity.  The  ends  of  two  pieces  of 
wire  are  brought  together  slowly  and  a  current  caused  to  pass  from  one 
to  the  other.  By  the  time  there  is  close  contact  there  is  complete  con- 
nection, and  it  is  impossible  to  tell  where  the  joint  was  made.  It  is  now 
entirely  unnecessary  to  be  particular  about  making  a  mile  or  two  of 
wire  in  one  stretch ;  pieces  a  foot  long  will  make  a  perfect  wire  of 
indefinite  length. 

Marquette  county  sends  a  great  many  specimens  of  iron  ore,  and  of 
some  marbles  which  have  been  lately  discovered  near  Ishpeming.  These 
marble  quarries  are  believed  to  be  inexhaustible,  although  the  quality 
has  not  been  fully  tested. 

This  State  exhibits  some  four  hundred  cabinet  specimens  of  ores  and 
three  hundred  more  not  in  cabinets.  The  entire  exhibit  is  surmounted 
by  a  neat  enclosure,  the  entrance  through  which  is  at  the  corner  facing 
the  center  of  the  Mines  Building.  This  is  an  arched  doorway,  the  sup- 
porting pillars  of  which  are  of  red  sandstone.  Above  the  arch  is  the 
Michigan  coat  of  arms,  and  still  higher,  an  allegorical  group  in  copper, 
representing  the  crowning  of  two  miners  with  laurel  wreaths.  On  either 
side  of  the  entrance  is  placed  an  obelisk  of  Grand  Rapids  gypsum.  The 
exhibit  is  in  charge  of  Samuel  Brady,  of  Detroit. 

Real    Miners  at  Work. 

Wyoming  constructed  a  model  placer  mine  for  the  delight  of  the 
(>  gold  bugs  "  from  the  East.  There  is  shown  all  the  machinery  em- 
ployed in  mining,  the  wheels  being  turned  under  the  superintendence 
of  real  miners. 


MINES   AND   MINING   BUILDING. 


399 


California,  of  course,  has  her  name  written  over  her  pavilion  in  letters 
of  an  unmistakable  size.  Three  arches  of  equal  height  support  a  very 
big  panelled  square  pediment  and  this  bears  the  name.  The  old  "  Forty- 
niners,"  who  have  an  association,  have  relics  of  the  old  gold  industry. 
They  have  scoured  the  State  for  picks  and  shovels  with  which  men  say 
they  dug  for  the  precious  metal.  Each  mine'ral  county  in  California  has 
a  separate  exhibit,  each  oi\e  being  convinced  that  it  is  the  best  county. 


CALIFORNIA    PAVILION    IN   THE    MINES    BUILDING. 

Idaho  has  good  ores  and  Washington  a  pavilion  domed  with  a  trophy 
in  the  centre.  She  shows  ores  and  new  quarries  of  ornamental  stones. 
Utah  exhibits  some  of  her  mineral  wealth. 

Now  we  come  to  the  Ada  Rehan  statue  from  Montana.  Her  principal 
exhibit  is  the  silver  statue  of  the  actress.  In  casting  it  the  amount  of 
silver  used,  it  is  said,  was  $32,000. 

Colorado  has  a  pavilion  of  classic  columns  made  of  her  marbles.  The 
columns  are  crowned  with  heavy  masses  of  ore.  In  her  exhibits  this 
State  shows  the  Breckenridge  collection  of  gold  nuggets,  said  to  be 
worth  $250,000,  ranging  in  size  from  the  smallest  to  the  largest. 


400  MINES   AND   MINING   BUILDING. 

In  the  Miners'    Hut. 

Copper  in  great  profusion  is  found  in  the  exhibits  of  Arizona  and  New 
Mexico,  some  from  the  Copper  Queen  Consolidated  Mines.  New 
Mexico  built  a  miners'  cabin  and  covered  it  with  minerals.  It  is  the 
sort  of  place  the  miners  live  in  when  they  can't  get  anything  better,  or 
when  they  are  showing  in  public  performances  of  a  play  built  round  a 
log  hut. 

Mining  and  stone  quarrying  and  stone  working  machinery  is  arranged 
under  the  east  gallery,  where  there  are  to  be  found  placer  and  hydraulic 
implements  in  every  shape.  If  a  gold  mine  were  to  be  found  in  Chicago 
there  are  ample  facilities  for  working  it  at  a  moment's  notice.  It  is 
shown  how  the  polishing  is  done,  the  underground  haulage,  the  systems 
of  hoisting,  draining,  ventilating,  lighting,  transporting  and  conveying 
on  the  surface,  drills,  boring,  blasting,  crushing,  screening  and  "  sizing." 
There  are  heavy  stamps  for  crushing  ore,  most  of  them  full  size.  They 
are  worked  by  power  supplied  by  means  of  compressed  air  from  Ma- 
chinery Hall. 

In  the  north  end  of  the  gallery  is  a  splendid  exhibit  of  the  Standard 
Oil  Company.  This  corporation,  usually  considered  not  very  public, 
spirited,  has  spared  no  expense  in  showing  to  the  public  its  methods  of 
drilling,  piping  and  distributing  oil,  its  expenditures  on  account  of  its 
exhibit  being  tremendous.  Besides  the  apparatus  for  obtaining  crude 
petroleum  from  the  bowels  of  the  earth  it  shows  a  complete  series  of  all 
the  oil  products  and  secondary  derivatives,  even  as  far  as  chewing  gum, 
which,  it  appears,  is  made  from  an  oil  product.  The  company  had  no 
"  core,"  which  is  the  rock  taken  out  in  drilling  a  well,  that  would  show 
up  satisfactorily,  and  so  they  drove  two  new  wells  to  get  one.  The  core 
displays  the  strata  of  stone  which  overlies  the  deposits  of  oil-bearing 
sand.  Models  are  there  of  piping  and  storing  in  reservoirs,  and  statis- 
tical pyramids  that  make  easily  understood  the  enormous  growth  of  the 
oil  industry.  These  were  prepared  by  Dr.  D.  T.  Bay,  of  the  United 
States  Geological  Survey. 

Oil   Shafts   and  Tunnels. 

In  the  model  room  are  representations  of  mines,  shafts  and  tunnels 
and  drifts  which  give  an  idea  of  a  miner's  work  that  could  only  be  ob- 
tained otherwise  by  a  trip  into  the  caverns  of  the  earth. 

In  the  heavy  chemical  group  are  sulphurs,  salts,  pigments  and  fer- 
tilizers. Florida  and  South  Carolina  show  their  big  phosphate  beds. 
Another  group  contains  the  cements,  asphalts  and  mastics.  Included 


MINES   AND    MINING   BUILDING.  401 

in  this  is  a  model  of  the  pitch  lake  of  Trinidad,  sent  by  an  asphalt  firm. 
The  clays  are  shown  by  themselves  and  in  one  part  of  the  gallery  a 
Chicago  firm,  with  miniature  machinery,  produces  and  bakes  little  pressed 
bricks  that  they  give  away  as  samples.  Here  also  is  a  collection  of  gra- 
phite arranged  by  a  Jersey  City  firm  that  shows  all  the  uses  of  that  ma- 
terial from  crucibles  to  stove  polish.  Adjoining  is  an  assortment  of 
abrasives,  such  as  grindstones.  It  is  a  noteworthy  fact  that  the  rouge 
used  for  women's  faces  is  classed  as  an  abrasive  and  is  placed  alongside 
of  the  grindstones. 

Building  Stones  and  Coal. 

Group  No.  44  is  a  set  of  the  building  and  ornamental  stones  found 
throughout  the  United  States.  They  are  in  little  cubes,  each  side  dressed 
in  a  different  fashion.  Accompanying  them  is  a  set  of  transparencies 
showing  their  appearance  under  the  microscope.  These  were  got  to- 
gether by  Professor  Merrill. 

A  similar  exhibit  is  a  display  of  coal  and  coke  from  every  coal  field 
in  the  United  States.  The  pieces  are  all  of  the  uniform  size  and  placed 
on  aluminum  mounts.  Thus  coal  experts  can  study  the  relative  value  of 
the  various  fuels.  Each  sample  is  numbered,  and  a  similar  number  is 
found  on  a  plate  glass  map  of  the  region,  so  that  the  coal  can  be  readily 
identified. 

An  assay  office  is  seen  in  actual  work  ;  mechanical  tests  are  applied 
in  a  separate  department  to  steel  to  determine  its  tensile  strength  and 
other  characteristics.  A  club  room  is  located  in  the  gallery  that  is  to 
be  the  headquarters  of  visiting  mining  engineers  and  there  is  a  loan  col- 
lection of  mining  books  embracing  several  thousand  volumes  and  in- 
cluding all  the  subjects  as  to  which  a  mining  engineer  should  be  posted. 
Some  of  the  works  are  very  rare. 

In  the  technical  collections  are  displayed  the  metallurgical  processes 
from  concentration  and  reduction  to  its  conversion  to  the  uses  of  man, 
such  as  the  Bessemer,  basic-Bessemer,  open  hearth  and  crucible  pro- 
cesses, and  an  exhibit  of  all  the  different  kinds  of  iron  and  steel. 

Outside  the  Mining  Building,  but  still  a  part  of  the  exhibit  of  the  sec- 
tion, is  an  oil  well  two  thousand  feet  deep,  put  down  by  a  Pittsburgh 
dealer  in  oil  well  appliances.  Of  course  there  is  no  oil  under  Jacksor 
Park,  but  there  is  the  satisfaction  of  finding  water  at  a  depth  of  a  few  fee; 

The  State  exhibits  are  largely  of  the  museum  order,  but  these  may  be 
considered  from  some  other  standpoint  than  that  of  mere  curiosity.  Min- 
erals and  ores  represent  wealth,  as  well  as  wheat  and  cattle,  and  a  State 
whose  surface  is  unproductive  in  cereals  and  the  products  of  cereals 
may  have  limitless  treasures  beneath  the  surface. 
26 


CHAPTER   XX. 
Eastern  and  Middle  States  at  the  Fair. 

NEARLY   every   state  and  territory  in  the  Union,  as  well  as 
every   foreign   government,    was    represented    on   the    Fair 
grounds  by  special  buildings,  in  which  were  special  exhibits 
from  those  states,  such  as  soils,  mineral  products,  grains  and 
other  products,  and  also  club  rooms  for  the  people  from  those  states, 
which  they  could  call  their  own  headquarters,  but  all  of  these  were  open 
to  the  public  free  of  any  charge. 

These  State  buildings  presented  a  variety  of  architecture  detailing  in  a 
measure  the  history  of  the  country.  They  contained  exhibits  among 
the  most  interesting  to  the  foreign  visitors,  because  they  showed  what 
each  state  is  able  to  produce  and  what  are  its  natural  resources.  In 
many  instances  they  represent  state  fairs  with  very  complete  exhibits. 

Some  of  the  state  buildkigs  were  veritable  palaces,  and  all  of  them  of 
the  character  of  homes,  with  their  handsomely  furnished  parlors,  recep- 
tion-rooms, reading  and  smoking-rooms,  broad  verandas  and  otjier  con- 
veniences for  visitors. 

Massachusetts. 

The  Massachusetts  Building  was  in  the  Colonial  style,  and  was  largely 
a  reproduction  of  the  historic  John  Hancock  residence,  which,  until  the 
year  1867,  stood  on  Beacon  Hill,  Boston,  near  the  State  Capitol.  The 
building  was  three  stories  high,  surmounted  in  the  center  by  a  cupola. 
The  exterior  was  of  "staff,"  in  imitation  of  cut  granite.  It  followed  the 
lines  of  the  old  house  sufficiently  faithful  to  recall  the  original  to  the 
minds  of  those  who  have  seen  it.  Like  the  original,  it  was  surrounded 
by  a  terrace,  raised  above  the  street,  and  had  in  front  and  on  one  side  a 
forecourt,  filled  with  old-fashioned  flowers  and  foliage,  in  keeping  with 
the  character  of  the  building.  It  was  approached  by  two  flights  of  steps 
— one  leading  from  the  street  to  the  terrace,  the  other  from  the  court  to 
the  house.  The  main  entrance  opened  to  a  spacious,  well-studded  hall- 
way, with  a  tiled  floor. 

Facing  the  entrance  was  a  broad,  Colonial  staircase,  leading  to  the 
second  floor.  An  old-fashioned  bull's-eye  window  gave  light  to  the 
stairway.  On  the  right  of  the  hall  was  a  large  room,  constituting  a  reg- 

40? 


EASTERN  AND  MIDDLE  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR.  403 

istration  room,  postoffice  and  general  reception  room.  The  fittings  and 
furnishings  of  this  room  were  unique.  Its  marble  floor,  its  tiled  walls, 
its  uncovered  beams,  and  its  high  mantel  recalled  the  old  Dutch  rooms 
found  in  Western  Massachusetts,  as  well  as  in  New  York  and  Pennsyl- 
vania. On  the  left  of  the  front  door,  or  main  entrance,  were  two  large 
parlors,  which,  when  thrown  together,  formed  a  room  80  by  25  feet  in 
size. 

The  front  parlor  was  furnished  by  the  Essex  Institute,  of  Salem,  an 
old  historical  society.  The  back  parlor  was  more  especially  a  reading- 
room  for  men.  The  second  floor  was  given  over  almost  entirely  to  the 
use  of  women.  There  was  a  large  and  smaller  parlor,  and  two  bed- 
rooms for  the  use  of  the  women's  board.  The  entire  floor  was  furnished  in 
old-fashioned  furniture,  and  in  the  bed-rooms  were  four-post  bedsteads. 
On  the  third  floor  were  rooms  for  servants.  A  liberty  pole,  eighty-five 
feet  high,  stood  in  the  fore-court,  and  a  gilded  cod-fish  served  as  a  vane 
on  the  top  of  the  cupola. 

Massachusetts  had  the  only  building  on  the  grounds  which  can  be 
called  strictly  colonial  in  all  its  aspects.  The  visitor  could  readily 
imagine  himself  in  the  home  of  John  Hancock,  and  were  he  ever  so 
critical  he  found  no  detail  neglected. 

The  Bay  State  Building  Dedicated. 

The  dedication  of  the  building  took  place  on  October  22,  1892. 
Shortly  before  ten  o'clock  the  members  of  the  Massachusetts  delegation 
began  to  arrive,  and  in  a  few  minutes  most  of  those  who  were  expected 
to  attend  the  dedicatory  exercises  were  present.  As  Governor  Russell 
reached  the  building  the  state  flag  was  run  up,  and  E.  C.  Hovey, 
Executive  Commissioner  of  the  State,  came  forward  and  received  the 
Chief  Executive  Officer.  In  a  short  speech  Mr.  Hovey  handed  over 
to  the  Governor  the  Massachusetts  Building  in  the  name  of  the  Com- 
mission of  the  State.  The  Governor  made  a  brief  responsive  address 
and,  in  the  name  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  returned  the 
building  to  Mr.  Hovey  as  the  Executive  Commisioner. 

Massachusetts  was  well  represented  at  the  Fair.  The  entire  mineral 
section  from  that  state  was  stored  in  the  Mines  and  Mining  Building. 
The  state  made  a  creditable  display  in  the  agricultural  department,  and 
in  this  direction  an  interesting  feature  was  the  section  from  the  agricul- 
tural training  schools  and  the  experimental  farms.  Especially  notice- 
able was  the  educational  section  of  the  exhibit,  in  which  Harvard  College 
made  a  magnificent  display. 

The  women  of  the  state  secured  a  great  collection  of  Colonial  relics. 


404 


EASTERN  AND  MIDDLE  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR.  405 

Among  the  most  valuable  of  these  relics  was  a  fragment  of  the  orig- 
inal "Liberty"  tree  flag,  looped  in  the  center  by  Gen.  Brooks'  revolu- 
tionary hat,  with  crossed  guns  below,  quaint  long-stocked  old  weapons ; 
one,  the  gun  that  shot  May  Pitcairn;  and  beneath,  a  pontoon  that  was 
used  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 

Among  the  historic  treasures  was  the  Governor  Wolcott  tankard, 
loaned  by  Lieutenant  Governor  Wolcott ;  also  portraits  of  ancestors  of 
the  Wolcotts;  a  painting  by  Copley  of  members  of  Governor  Gore's 
family,  loaned  by  the  Misses  Robins  of  Boston ;  a  mirror  of  Governor 
Hutchinson,  with  beautifully  carved  frame ;  a  quaint  little  book,  pub- 
lished and  sold  in  1740  in  Philadelphia,  by  "B.  Franklin;"  a  sword  worn 
by  Judge  Hatton  of  Salem ;  a  bed-quilt  made  of  pieces  of  Lady  Wash- 
ington's dresses,  and  many  quaint  articles  of  dress,  big  bonnets  and 
broidered  gowns. 

The  applied  arts  exhibit  had  a  central  attraction  in  the  exquisite  un- 
derglaze  art  work  of  Mrs.  Ellen  M.  Richardson ;  the  Boston  Society  of 
Decorative  Art  exhibited  beautiful  embroideries  ;  and  the  Mineral  Art 
League,  a  fine  collection  of  ceramics ;  there  were  wood  carvings,  tapes- 
try, paintings,  industrial  designs,  stained  glass  and  other  evidences  of 
woman's  advance  in  all  lines  of  applied  art. 

There  was  a  cradle  in  which  were  rocked  five  generations  of  the 
Adams  family,  which  furnished  the  second  and  sixth  presidents  of  the 
United  States.  There  was  a  desk  used  by  George  Washington  when  he 
made  his  headquarters  at  Cambridge.  There  were  portraits  of  sixty 
men  and  women  who  aided  in  making  Massachusetts  famous  in  its 
earliest  days.  Everything  goes  to  tell  the  history  of  the  old  Bay  State. 
The  various  historical  societies  occupied  rooms  with  exhibits  showing 
the  doings  of  the  Pilgrim  fathers  from  Holland  to  Plymouth. 

A  Volume  of  Great   Interest. 

There  was  issued  under  the  patronage  of  the  Massachusetts  Commis- 
sioners to  the  World's  Fair  a  large  volume,  which  bears  the  explanatory 
title  of  "  Massachusetts  of  To-day ;  a  Memorial  of  the  State,  Historical 
and  Biographical,  Issued  for  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition  at  Chi- 
cago." It  is  a  large  quarto  work  of  620  pages,  and  is  intended  for  free 
distribution  to  the  heads  of  departments,  representatives  of  all  other 
states  and  all  other  countries  who  may  be  in  attendance  at  Chicago  during 
the  Fair,  and  to  such  other  persons  as  are  likely  to  value  it. 

The  introductory  page  contains  a  poem  by  Henry  Austin,  of  consid- 
erable local  fame,  the  opening  stanza  of  which  is  this : 


406  EASTERN  AND  MIDDLE  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR. 

"Dark  was  the  shore  that  clouded  on  the  sight 
Of  those  grim  mariners  on  the  frail  ship  named 

After  the  frailest  blossoms  of  the  May  ; 

Rough  was  the  welcome  offered  that  first  night, 

By  rock-born  waves  that  noisily  proclaimed 

Their  joy  of  liberty  in  Plymouth's  Bay; 

But,  ah !  how  bright  and  soft  and  glorious  rose  the  day !" 

Rhode  Island. 

The  Rhode  Island  Building  was  after  the  Greek  style  of  architecture, 
with  columnar  porticoes  on  four  sides  of  the  building — that  on  the  west 
or  front  side  semi-circular  in  plan,  with  arched  openings  'between  the 
Ionic  pilasters,  the  latter  being  of  the  full  height  of  the  two  stories. 

The  building  was  symmetrical  in  the  display  of  columns  in  that  the 
north  and  south  porches — each  of  the  full  width  of  the  building — con- 
sisted of  four  fluted  Ionic  columns,  each  24  inches  in  diameter  and  21 
feet  high,  while  the  rear  entrance  was  between  Ionic  fluted  pilasters,  the 
same  as  in  front.  The  columns  were  surmounted  by  an  enriched  Ionic 
entablature,  with  decorated  mouldings,  modillions  and  dentils,  and  above 
the  entablature  the  building  was  finished  with  a  balustrade  surrounding 
the  four  sides  of  the  roof,  with  ornamental  urns  over  each  pedestal  in 
the  balustrade. 

The  building  had  a  ground  area  of  32  by  59  feet,  two  stories  high,  in 
wood  and  "staff"  in  imitation  of  granite.  Entrance  was  had  to  the 
building  from  all  sides  through  French  windows  opening  to  the  floor. 
The  main  hall  was  1 8  by  25  feet,  and  was  open  to  the  roof.  The  parlor 
for  women  and  the  secretary's  office  were  on  the  first  floor.  On  the 
second  floor  were  two  committee  rooms  and  a  gallery  round  the  main 
hall.  The  Governor's  rooms  occupied  what  may  be  called  the  second 
story  of  the  porch  on  the  west  front.  All  the  floors  were  hard  wood, 
and  the  interior  was  finished  in  cypress. 

The  dedicatory  exercises  at  the  Rhode  Island  State  Building  began 
at  two  o'clock,  October  22,  1892,  over  three  hundred  citizens  and  former 
residents  of  Rhode  Island  being  present.  Commissioner  Gardiner  C. 
Sims,  Chairman  of  the  Building  Committee,  made  the  opening  speech, 
during  which  he  handed  the  keys  of  the  building  over  to  Governor 
Russell  Brown.  The  Governor  responded,  accepting  the  building  and 
commending  the  committee  for  the  work  it  had  accomplished.  In  con- 
clusion the  Governor  presented  the  keys  of  the  building  to  Executive 
Commissioner  John  C.  Wyman,  who  responded,  commenting  largely 
upon  the  manufacturing  interests  of  the  state,  urging  this  as  a  reason 
why  Rhode  Island  should  be  creditably  represented  at  the  World's 


407 


408 


EASTERN  AND  MIDDLE  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR. 


Fair.     He  also  referred  to  the  fact  that  the  Rhode  Island  Building  was 
the  first  to  be  completed. 

New    Hampshire. 

The  mountains  of  New  Hampshire  probably  suggested  the  Swiss  cot- 
tage for  a  World's  Fair  building.  The  building,  like  the  state,  was 
comparatively  small — 53  by  84  feet.  The  pitched,  shingled  roof  was 
broken  by  five  gables.  The  exterior  was  weather  boarded  in  stained 
Georgia  pine  above  a  line  seven  feet  from  the  ground.  This  first  seven- 


NEW   HAMPSHIRE   STATE   BUILDING. 

foot  course  was  in  New  Hampshire  granite.  Each  of  the  two  stories 
was  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  a  wide  piazza.  The  rooms  on  the  second 
floor  opened  to  the  piazza,  through  hinged  windows  opening  to  the 
floor.  The  entrance  was  on  the  east,  facing  the  drive  on  Lake 
Michigan. 

On  the  first  floor  was  a  reception  hall  22  by  36  feet.  It  had  two 
unique  fire-places  in  pressed  granite  brick.  To  the  rear  of  the  hall  was 
a  wing  of  the  main  building  two  stories  high,  the  second  story  being  a 
wide  balcony  or  gallery  to  the  main  floor.  The  roof  was  a  glass  sky- 
light. A  state  exhibit,  a  picture  collection,  and  a  large  state  map  were 
shown  here.  Besides  the  reception  hall  on  the  first  floor  there  are 


EASTERN  AND  MIDDLE  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR. 


409 


parlors  ior  men  and  women.  These  rooms  were  ceiled,  while  the  recep- 
tion hall  opened  to  the  roof  and  was  covered  with  a  skylight.  The 
second  floor  had  a  reception  room  and  six  board  and  committee 

rooms. 

Maine. 

The  people  of  Maine  showed  their  interest  in  the  great  celebration 
by  making  early  preparations  for  the  erection  of  a  building  on  the  Ex-_ 
position  grounds   and  the  display  of  the  best  products  of  the  State. 
These  were  scattered  through  the  various  departments,  and  were  so 
diversified  as  to  fairly  show  the  State's  resources,  and  of  such  a  quality 


MAINE   STATE   BUILDING. 

as  to  command  the  attention  of  visitors.  While  the  Maine  Building  was 
not  one  of  the  most  expensive,  it  was  neat  and  conveniently  arranged, 
affording  an  attractive  home  to  the  officials  and  visitors  from  that  State. 
The  Maine  Building  was  octagonal  in  form,  with  a  ground  area  of 
sixty-five  feet  square.  It  was  two  stories  in  height,  the  roof  surmounted 
by  a  lantern  in  the  center,  and  four  corner  towers.  The  first  story  was 
of  granite.  The  exterior  finish  of  the  rest  of  the  building  was  in  wood 
and  "staff."  The  roof  was  of  slate.  The  central  tower,  or  lantern,  was 
eighty-six  feet  to  its  highest  point.  While  the  first  story  was  octagonal 
in  form,  the  second  story  presented  but  four  sides,  each  with  a  loggia 
opening  to  the  rooms  within.  The  second  story  floor  overhung  the  first 


410  EASTERN  AND  MIDDLE  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR. 

story  one  foot.     The  main  entrance  to  these  arched  doorways  faced  the 
southeast.     Over  it  projected  a  boat's  bow,  in  "staff." 

Within  the  entrance  was  an  octagonal  rotunda,  open  to  the  roof  line, 
its  ceiling  being  an  ornamental  colored  skylight.  On  the  first  floor 
were  parlors  and  reception  rooms  for  men  and  women,  toilet  rooms  and 
two  commissioners'  rooms.  A  railed  gallery  extended  around  the 
rotunda.  The  interior  finishing  was  in  hard  wood.  The  granite  and 
roof  slate  used  in  construction,  the  skylight  in  the  rotunda,  and  the 
mantels  over  the  fireplaces  were  from  Maine  and  were  donated  by  man- 
ufacturers. 

Vermont. 

Vermont's  headquarters  was  erected  by  private  contribution  at  a  cost 
of  $10,000.  The  building  was  of  Vermont  granite,  modeled  after  a 
farmhouse  of  the  Revolutionary  period.  The  following  is  a  description 
of  the  building :  On  the  right  and  left  of  the  steps  on  the  fagade  rise 
two  shafts,  on  which  are  allegorical  figures  representing  the  industries 
of  agriculture  and  quarrying,  the  two  principal  industrial  activities  of 
the  state.  A  columned  portico  leads  into  a  court-yard,  on  the  right 
and  left  of  which  are  covered  porches  with  broad  seats.  Just  off  these 
are  the  reception-rooms  in  front  and  committee-rooms,  postoffice,  etc., 
in  the  rear. 

In  the  center  of  the  court  is  a  handsome  marble  fountain.  Marble 
from  the  quarries  of  the  state  is  used  all  through  the  interior  of  the 
building.  Facing  the  end  of  the  court  is  a  porch,  supported  by  four 
caryatids,  over  which  is  a  semi-circular  Greek  window  with  bas-relief 
around  it  representing  "  Freedom  and  Unity."  The  coat  of  arms  is  in 
the  center.  The  reception  hall,  in  the  rear,  is  circular  in  form,  with  a 
colonnade  around,  and  a  wooden  dome  surmounts  the  structure.  All  is 
colored  according  to  a  Pompeiian  scheme.  The  building  is  Pompeiian 
in  style  and  of  classic  detail  and  furnishes  a  pleasing  contrast  to  the 
other  buildings. 

On  May  loth,  1893,  the  building  was  dedicated  by  Governor  Fuller 
and  his  staff  and  a  thousand  sons  of  New  England.  The  crowd  reached 
out  into  the  avenue  and  many  guards  were  puzzled  to  their  feeble  wits' 
ends  to  keep  the  passage  way  clear.  It  was  as  enthusiastic  and  interest- 
ing a  dedicatory  service  as  any  state  has  yet  had.  The  house  was  not 
especially  decorated,  save  for  a  big  flag  of  red  and  white,  with  the  state 
emblem  in  the  corner  and  a  little  green  one  which  bore  the  name.  The 
platform  was  a  wooden  stool,  and  from  this  flowed  eloquence  and  wis- 
dom such  as  has  made  the  state  famous  in  courts  and  legislative  halls. 


EASTERN  AND  MIDDLE  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR.  4H 

Paintings  of  men  who  have  made  the  state  famous  adorned  the  walls, 
with  the  furniture  very  largely  the  product  of  home  factories. 

The  Dedicatory  Exercises. 

The  programme  began  with  music  by  the  orchestra  stationed  in  one 
of  the  nooks  of  the  exterior  colonnade.  Rev.  Dr.  Goodwin,  of  the  first 
Congregational  church,  offered  the  dedication  prayer,  and  then  there  was 
singing  by  the  ladies'  trio  of  the  Chicago  conservatory.  James  L.  Mar- 
tin, who  rapped  the  gavel  for  six  years  in  the  Vermont  Legislature,  then 
delivered  the  structure  to  the  exposition.  In  substance  he  said : 

"  How  fitting  it  is  that  Vermont  should  be  represented  by  this  unique 
and  classical  structure  amidst  these  grander  edifices,  representing  as  they 
do  the  other  and  more  populous  states  of  the  nation.  To-day  Vermont 
yields  to  but  few  in  the  products  of  her  tilled  acreage.  Her  organs, 
scales,  granite,  marble  and  maple  sugar  command  the  markets  of  the 
world.  She  is  the  first  to  be  represented  here  by  the  members  of  her 
press  association,  and  she  has  always  been  of  the  first  in  the  councils  of 
the  nation.  Towering  above  all  this,  the  moral,  intellectual  and  phy- 
sical development  of  our  men  and  women  of  every  period  of  our  history 
challenges  the  whole  earth  for  superiors.  If  all  the  heroes  of  our  dead 
were  here  they  would  put  a  tongue  in  every  stone  of  this  building  and 
would  chime  the  praises  of  Vermont  in  the  grandest  music  of  the  re- 
public. 

"  By  the  sacred  memory  of  our  fathers,  by  the  fond  recollections  of 
the  stern  virtue  of  our  mothers,  by  the  spirit  of  justice  that  fans  our  hills 
in  the  air,  and  by  the  direction  of  the  commission  and  his  Excellency,  the 
Governor,  and  on  behalf  of  our  good  people  living  in  homes  of  peace 
and  contentment,  and  of  Vermonters  everywhere,  I  give  this  building  to 
the  use  of  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition." 

Governor  Fuller's   Address. 

Governor  Fuller  rose  upon  the  little  pedestal  to  deliver  the  oration. 
This  is  what  he  said  : 

"  Constituting  as  do  these  delicatory  services  to-day,  a  part  of  the 
prelude  to  the  magnificent  things  which  this  World's  Columbian  Expo- 
sition promises,  Vermont  comes  to  offer  its  congratulations  on  this 
auspicious  occasion,  and  to  felicitate  itself  that  it  can  have  a  part,  how- 
ever humble,  in  the  gigantic  enterprise  which  so  fittingly  commemorates 
the  four  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  landing  of  the  fearless  Genoese 
navigator. 

"  Pleasing  as  it  is  for  us  to  glorify  our  local  habitations  and  state 


412 


EASTERN   AND    MIDDLE   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR. 


separations,  yet  especially  delightful  is  it  to-day,  amid  the  inspiring  sur- 
roundings of  this  occasion,  to  give  ourselves  largely  to  the  thoughts 
which  the  occasion  commemorates.  While  many  of  the  greatest  inven- 
tions of  the  world's  later  triumphs  found  their  birth  and  earliest  home 
within  our  borders,  yet  Vermont  prides  herself  most  of  all  in  the  wealth 
of  that  sturdy  manhood  which  has  made  itself  felt  wherever  her  sons 
have  gone.  So  while  we  come  to  dedicate  our  State  building  as  a 
suitable  and  convenient  rallying  point  for  the  sons  and  daughters  of 
Vermont,  yet  we  come  primarily  as  citizens  of  the  United  States,  our 
hearts  throbbing  with  patriotic  pride  as  we  take  part  in  this  great  inter- 


VERMONT   STATE    BUILDING. 

national    commemoration    and   view   the   wonders    of  this    Columbian 
Exposition  of  the  world's  industry  and  art." 

Vermont  sent  to  Chicago  some  choice  exhibits,  the  display  of  maple 
sugar  being  the  finest  ever  seen.  Not  less  than  $1,000  was  spent  on  the 
pavilion  in  the  agricultural  building  within  which  the  sugar  was  exhibited. 
The  dairy  exhibit  was  of  general  interest.  Fifty  Morgan  horses  were 
shown,  including  a  selected  flock  of  ico  sheep,  together  with  twenty-five 
head  of  Jersey  and  Ayrshire  cattle. 

Connecticut. 

The  Connecticut  Building  was  in  the  Colonial  style,  the  building 
being  a  type  of  the  Connecticut  residence,  with  the  addition  of  circular 
windows  on  the  north  and  south,  and  a  circular  piazza,  on  the  rear.  It 
had  a  ground  area  of  72  by  73  feet,  including  the  piazza,  and  was  two 
stories  high.  The  exterior  was  weather-boarded  and  painted  white. 
The  roof  contained  five  dormer  windows  and  was  decked  on  top.  The 


EASTERN   AND   MIDDLE   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR. 


413 


deck  was  surrounded  by  a  balustrade,  and  from  its  center  rose  a  flag-staff. 
The  main  entrance  was  off  a  square  porch,  covered  by  the  projecting 
pediment,  which  was  supported  by  heavy  columns. 

The  interior  was  finished  in  Colonial  style,  with  tiled  floors,  paneled 
walls,  and  Dutch  mantels.  The  plumbing  and  carpenter's  hardware  in 
the  building  were  in  special  designs,  and  were  donated  as  exhibits  by 
Connecticut  manufacturers.  On  the  first  floor  was  a  reception  hall,  2 1 
by  48  feet,  with  a  light-well  in  the  center.  In  the  rear  of  the  hall  was  a 


CONNECTICUT   STATE    BUILDING. 

stairway  with  a  landing  half  way  up.  Flanking  the  hall  were  parlors  for 
men  and  women.  The  second  floor  was  divided  up  into  living  rooms, 
and  was  occupied  by  the  executive  World's  Fair  officer  of  Connecticut 
and  his  family  during  the  Fair. 

The  Connecticut  State  Building  was  formally  dedicated  October  nth, 
1892.  Gov.  Morris  and  staff  were  entertained  with  lunch  there,  pro- 
vided by  Executive  Manager  Vail,  after  which  brief  dedicatory  speeches 
were  made  by  Gov.  Morris,  ex-Senator  Read,  and  others. 

Rare  Old  Furniture. 

The  official  visitors  appeared  to  be  well  pleased  with  the  State  build- 
ing, the  principal  apartments  being :  general  parlor,  ladies'  parlor,  gen- 
tlemen's sitting-room,  registry  room  and  post-office,  and  executive  man- 
ager's office.  On  the  second  floor  are  three  rooms  which  are  likely  to 
be  regarded  with  deep  interest  by  all  Connecticut  people  who  see  them. 


414  EASTERN   AND    MIDDLE   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR. 

They  are  designed  especially  to  represent  the  three  oldest  towns  in  Con- 
necticut— Windsor,  Hartford  and  Wethersfield.  They  are  well  supplied 
with  antique  furniture,  brought  all  the  way  from  the  Nutmeg  State — 
loans  from  various  old  homesteads.  The  walls  of  the  Windsor  room 
are  in  imitation  of  those  in  the  home  of  Chief  Justice  Ellsworth. 

The  Wethersfield  room  is  called  the  Washington  room,  the  wall 
decorations  being  in  imitation  of  those  in  a  room  which  Washington 
once  occupied.  The  walls  of  the  Hartford  room  are  decorated  with  oak 
leaves;  this  is  designated  the  Charter  Oak  room.  The  side  walls  of  the 


PENNSYLVANIA   STATE   BUILDING. 


parlor  and  gentlemen's  sitting  room  are  hung  in  elegant  silk  tapestry, 
the  gift  of  the  Cheney  silk  works  of  South  Manchester,  Conn.  The 
walls  of  the  upper  hall  are  covered  with  squares  of  tastily  stenciled  book 
leather,  furnished  by  the  Dudley  Tannery  Company,  of  Winsted,  Conn- 

A  feature  of  especial  interest  is  found  in  the  finely  executed  pictures 
of  many  prominent  industrial  establishments  which  hang  in  various  parts 
of  the  building.  They  are  not  fine  pictures;  nevertheless  they  represent 
more  or  less  sentiment,  for  what  would  Connecticut  be  to-day  but  for 
the  thriving  establishments  where  resounds  the  hum  of  industry  ! 

Pennsylvania. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  buildings  at  the  Fair,  and  one  as  eagerly 
sought  as  any,  that  of  the  Keystone  State,  is  described  as  follows  : 


EASTERN  AND  MIDDLE  STATES  AT  THE  FAlK.  415 

The  Pennsylvania  structure  is  in  the  Colonial  style  of  architecture, 
while  the  front  is  an  exact  reproduction  of  old  Independence  Hall, 
having  its  entrances,  bell  tower  and  spire.  Independence  bell  hangs  in 
the  tower.  The  rotunda  within  the  entrance  is  finished  in  tile  and  slate, 
like  the  old  hall.  The  building  is  rectangular  in  form,  two  stories  high, 
with  a  ground  area  of  no  by  166  feet.  The  corners  of  the  front  are 
quarter-circled  in.  Piazzas  twenty  feet  wide  surround  the  building  and 
over  them  are  verandas  with  protecting  balustrade.  Outside  staircases, 
right  and  left  to  the  rear,  lead  to  the  garden  on  the  roof.  This  roof  is 
covered  with  American-made  tin  produced  in  Philadelphia.  The  outer 
walls  to  the  roof  line  are  of  Philadelphia  pressed  brick.  Above  the  main 
entrance  is  the  coat-of-arms  of  the  state,  in  bas  relief,  and  on  either  side 
of  it  are  heroic  statues  of  Penn  and  Franklin.  The  front  is  further 
ornamented  with  two  free  groups  of  statuary,  one  emblematic  of  the  arts 
and  sciences,  the  other  of  mines  and  manufacture. 

The  interior  finishing  represents,  in  the  floors,  native  marble  and  hard 
woods  from  Pennsylvania,  and  the  walls  are  wainscotted  in  wood,  frescoed 
and  heavily  corniced.  The  women's  rooms  are  finished  in  maple  and 
the  men's  in  oak.  The  walls  of  the  women's  rooms  are  ornamented 
with  mural  paintings  by  the  Pennsylvania  women.  All  the  ceilings  are 
of  stamped  metal,  and  the  staircases  are  of  quartered  oak.  On  the  main 
floor  is  the  reception-room,  33  by  56  feet,  and  on  either  side  are  parlors 
for  men  and  women.  On  the  second  floor  are  rooms  for  the  Governor, 
the  press  correspondents,  the  treasurer  of  the  commission  and  the  Board 
of  Commissioners.  There  are  three  bedrooms  in  the  tower.  The 
building  is  supplied  with  800  electric  lights. 

Spacious  Apartments. 

The  front  entrance  opens  into  a  central  rotunda,  to  the  right  and  left 
of  which  are  the  general  reception-rooms  with  toilet  and  dressing-room 
accessories.  In  the  rear  an  exhibition-room  extends  the  entire  width 
of  the  building.  The  walls  of  this  apartment  will  be  ornamented  with 
the  portraits  of  distinguished  Pennsylvanians,  and  many  rare  documents 
of  historical  interest  will  be  displayed.  Stately  and  imposing  as  the  ex- 
terior of  the  building  will  be,  its  interior  recesses  will  present  more 
gratifying  results  from  being  crowded  with  objects  of  absorbing  interest, 
not  only  to  Pennsylvanians  but  to  people  from  all  over  the  world. 

Broad,  winding  staircases  lead  to  the  second  story,  where  the  wait- 
ing-rooms and  offices  of  the  executive  commissioners  will  be  located. 
There  will  also  be  a  room  for  the  use  of  press  correspondents,  and  a 
room  furnished  with  newspaper  files  for  the  use  of  the  general  public. 


416 


EASTERN  AND  MIDDLE  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR. 


The  doors  and  windows  of  this  floor  open  upon  broad  verandas,  ad- 
mirably arranged  for  promenading  and  sight-seeing,  and  outside  stair- 
cases lead  to  the  roof  garden,  which,  besides  furnishing  a  birds-eye  view 
of  the  grounds,  will  be  in  itself  a  spot  of  floral  loveliness  and  quiet  re- 
tirement from  the  busy  throngs. 

The  main  purpose  held  steadily  in  view  in  the  design  and  construction 
of  this  edifice  has  been  to  furnish  spacious  and  comfortable  quarters, 
where  Pennsylvanians  in  attendance  at  the  Exposition  may  meet  with 
each  other  and  seek  relief  from  sight-seeing  in  social  intercourse,  amid 
historical  and  other  surroundings  which  will  tend  to  illustrate  the  in- 
fluence of  the  commonwealth  on  the  development  and  growth  of  the 
country.  The  architect  is  R.  Lonsdale,  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  con- 
tractor John  G.  Coder,  of  Har- 
risburg.  Estimated  total  cost, 
about  $95,000. 

The   Old  Liberty  Bell. 

The  Old  Liberty  Bell  was  re- 
moved to  Chicago,  as  it  was  felt 
that  this  building,  and  in  fact  the 
Exposition,  would  be  incomplete 
without  this  venerable  relic,  the 
most  famous  in  America.  The 
train  that  carried  it  was  welcomed 
at  every  point  of  the  journey  by 
enthusiastic  crowds. 

The  bell  was  cast  in  1751,  at 
the  order  of  the  provincial  Legis- 
lature of  Pennsylvania.  In  the 
contract  it  was  stipulated  that  it 
should  weigh  2,000  pounds  and  be 

of  a  clear  and  satisfactory  tone.  The  contract  was  fulfilled  as  to  the 
weight,  and  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  its  tone  was  satisfactory  or  it 
would  not  have  been  accepted,  but  there  are  now  few  people  alive  who 
can  say  that  they  have  heard  it  give  forth  a  sound,  for  since  1835  it  has 
been  silent.  It  bears  this  inscription  in  raised  letters  : 

ggog  oooooooooooooooooooooogg 

BY  ORDER  OF  ASSEMBLY  OF  THE  || 
()  PROVINCE  OF  PENNSYLVANIA  FOR  p 
0  THE  STATE  HOUSE  IN  THE  CITY  OF  o 
PHILADELPHIA,  1752.  \\ 


OLD    BELL   OF    INDEPENDENCE   HALL. 


EASTERN  AND  MIDDLE  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR.  417 

This  tells  that  the  bell  was  created  as  the  result  of  official  enactment, 
but  its  maker,  or  somebody,  put  another  inscription  on  it  which  was  a 
wonderful  prophecy.  It  was  a  quotation  from  the  Old  Testament,  but 
the  man  who  ordered  it  put  upon  the  bell  must  have  been  a  patriot. 
This  inscription  is : 


*  PROCLAIM  LIBERTY 

f  THROUGHOUT  THE  LAND  UNTO    o 

ALL  THE 
INHABITANTS  THEREOF.  ' 

oooooooooooooooooooooooglg 


In  1752  no  man  could  have  known  that  when  the  members  of  the 
Continental  Congress  had  affixed  their  signatures  to  the  great  declara- 
tion, each  man  taking  his  life  as  well  as  a  quill  pen  in  his  hand  as  he  did 
so,  the  bell  would  announce  the  fact  to  the  world.  It  is  popularly  sup- 
posed that  the  bell,  which  has  a  great  rent  in  its  side,  was  cracked  when 
the  sexton  of  Independence  Hall  rang  it  on  this  occasion,  but  that  is  a 
mistake.  It  was  cracked  on  July  8,  1835,  when  it  tolled  the  funeral 
knell  of  John  Marshall,  the  great  chief  justice  of  the  United  States. 

Left  its  Home  but  Three  Times. 

Since  that  great  day  in  1776  the  bell  has  left  Philadelphia  but  three 
times,  and  after  this  visit  to  the  World's  Fair  it  will  never  leave  its  home 
at  Independence  Hall  again.  It  was  only  with  difficulty  that  its  cus- 
todians, the  Philadelphians,  were  persuaded  to  allow  it  to  make  the 
journey  to  Chicago.  They  were  fearful  that  an  accident  might  destroy  it, 
and  so  it  was  decided  that  after  this  trip  it  will  never  be  moved  again. 
During  the  revolution,  when  the  British  captured  Philadelphia,  the  bell 
was  taken  out  of  the  city  and  removed  to  Allentown  for  safe  keeping. 
There  it  remained  until  after  the  enemy  evacuated  the  city. 

In  1885  it  was  taken  to  New  Orleans  to  be  exhibited  at  the  cotton 
centennial,  where  it  was  the  chief  attraction.  On  that  occasion  it  was 
escorted  from  Philadelphia  to  New  Orleans  by  a  detachment  of  Penn- 
sylvania militia.  It  was  received  at  New  Orleans  with  enthusiasm,  and 
among  the  men  who  made  speeches  in  its  honor  was  Jefferson  Davis, 
ex-President  of  the  Confederacy.  The  old  bell  at  that  time  proved  to  be 
a  link  to  bind  the  North  and  South  together,  and  thousands  who  had 
fought  on  opposing  sides  during  the  rebellion  united  in  an  enthusiastic 
demonstration  in  its  honor. 

27  -.  '•  . 


418  EASTERN  AND  MIDDLE  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR. 

Unique  Exhibits. 

Chained  to  a  large  rock,  the  last  American  lion  known  to  have  lived 
in  Pennsylvania  was  exhibited  at  the  Exposition.  Not  that  there  was 
any  necessity  of  restraining  the  animal.  The  chain  was  to  give  effect 
and  start  the  visitor's  imagination.  The  lion  has  been  dead  many  years, 
having  been  shot  in  1856  by  one  Samuel  E.  Bush. 

The  chained  lion  was  only  one  of  a  thousand  specimens  of  beasts 
and  birds  exhibited  in  the  Pennsylvania  Building.  The  citizens  of  the 
great  Quaker  commonwealth  prepared  one  of  the  most  unique  natural 
history  displays  ever  seen. 

There  was  a  mountain  from  Pennsylvania — a  mountain  of  rock  and 
sand,  with  forests,  and  caves,  and  streams  of  water,  and  lakes,  and  se- 
questered little  romantic  nooks ;  and  then  foot-hills,  and  marshes  and  a 
prairie,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing  just  as  it  is  described  in  the  story-book. 
And  what  is  more  wonderful  every  animal  that  ever  scratched  its  back 
against  a  Pennsylvania  tree,  every  bird  that  ever  winged  its  way  through 
the  quiet  Quaker  atmosphere,  and  every  fish  that  ever  disported  in  the 
waters  of  the  state  were  exhibited. 

The  mountain  consisted  of  165  separate  pieces,  ranging  in  size  from 
two  feet  to  four  feet.  The  mountain  was  made  in  sections,  each  section 
being  an  imitation  of  a  rock  both  in  shape  and  color.  It  was 
quite  deceptive,  appearing  much  larger  than  it  really  was.  There 
were  forest  trees  upon  its  sides,  with  ample  shrubbery  in  faith- 
ful reproduction  of  Pennsylvania  flora.  Upon  the  left-hand  side 
of  the  acclivity,  one  third  of  the  way  up,  was  a  spring  of  running 
water,  forming  a  pool,  then  overflowing  and  dashing  down  the  mountain 
in  cascades  to  the  lake  at  the  bottom.  On  the  edges  of  this  lake  was  ? 
marsh  filled  with  cat-tails  and  tall  swamp  grasses,  while  in  the  back 
ground  was  a  thicket  of  rhododendrons.  Upon  the  surface  of  the  lake 
were  floating  water  lilies  and  other  aquatic  plant  life,  while  among  them 
were  swimming  the  ducks,  geese  and  swans  of  the  collection. 

The  mountain  lion  mentioned  above,  which  was  chained  to  one  of  the 
papier  mache  rocks,  measures  seven  feet  nine  inches  in  length,  stands 
thirty  inches  high,  and  weighed  when  killed  147  pounds. 

Department   of  Education. 

Pennsylvania's  University  sent  to  the  Fair  the  entire  collection  secured 
by  the  expedition  sent  by  the  College  to  Babylon.  Among  the  other 
curiosities  this  collection  contains  is  a  stone  upon  which  are  inscriptions 
dated  3800  B.  C.,  and  various  tablets  upon  which  are  descriptions  of  the 


EASTERN  AND  MIDDLE  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR. 


419 


domestic  and  business  customs  of  the  people.  Another  collection 
shown  was  that  of  relics  of  the  prehistoric  inhabitants  of  the  Delaware 
Valley. 

In  addition  to  the  showing  made  by  its  university  the  public  schools 
of  Pennsylvania  supplemented  this  display  with  specimens  of  work  done 
in  all  the  departments.  This  included  kindergarten  work,  clay  model- 
ling, plain  and  fancy  sewing,  drawing  and  designing  and  the  completed 
work  of  the  classes  in  manual  training. 

A  very  valuable  historical  exhibit  of  national  character  was  installed. 


NEW  JERSEY  STATE   BUILDING. 

Among  the  more  prominent  features  of  this  exhibit  was  a  copy  of  the 
original  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  the  original  charter  granted 
to  William  Penn  and  signed  by  the  grantor,  Charles  II.  of  England.  A 
relief  map  of  the  state  made  from  accurate  surveys  was  shown. 

New  Jersey. 

The  building  was  one  of  the  few  erected  by  the  states  after  the  style 
of  Colonial  architecture.  It  was  a  slightly  modernized  reproduction  of 
the  house  at  Morristown  where  General  Washington  made  his  head- 
quarters during  the  days  of  revolution.  The  guest  enters  the  front  door  to 
be  ushered  into  a  large  rotunda.  Reception  parlors  are  to  the  right  and 
left  of  the  rotunda,  and  two  large  parlors,  a  lunch-room  and  two  sleep- 
ing-rooms occupy  the  second  floor.  In  all  its  surroundings  New  Jer- 
sey's Building  partakes  of  the  character  of  the  home.  Its  furnishings 


420  EASTERN   AND   MIDDLE   STATES  AT  THE   FAIR. 

were  contributed  largely  by  women  of  the  state.  The  building  admirably 
filled  its  purpose  of  making  an  attractive  clubhouse  and  headquarters 
for  the  people  of  New  Jersey  who  came  to  visit  the  World's  Fair. 

It  was  dedicated  May  2nd,  1893,  on  which  occasion  it  swarmed  with 
New  Jersey  people  and  a  host  of  guests  who  had  been  invited  by  the 
commissioners  and  lady  managers  to  attend  a  reception  in  honor  of  New 
Jersey's  Governor,  George  T.  Wertz.  Carriages  blocked  the  streets  in 
front  of  the  building  and  Columbian  guards  in  full  dress  uniforms  stood 
on  parade  while  the  paneled  door  swung  back  and  forth  during  the  af- 
ternoon. New  Jersey's  state  flag,  from  its  staff  in  front  of  the  building, 
lazily  flapped  a  salutation  to  all  who  walked  beneath  its  folds. 

There  was  nothing  formal  in  the  reception  tendered  Governor 
Wertz.  It  was  a  plain  old-fashioned  hand  shaking  and  exchange  of 
congratulations  over  the  fact  that  New  Jersey  was  the  first  com- 
monwealth to  throw  -open  the  doors  of  her  state  building  to  callers. 
Lavish  floral  decorations  were  employed  to  lend  their  beauty  to  the  at- 
tractiveness of  .the  cozy  interior.  They  were  to  be  seen  in  every  nook 
and  corner.  Roses  bloomed  in  the  windows  and  on  the  mantels.  Fes- 
toons of  smilax  hung  in  graceful  loops  around  the  balcony  in  the 
rotunda,  and  palms  nodded  their  green  heads  in  every  parlor.  On  the 
second  floor  a  mandolin  orchestra  played  its  sweetest  strains,  a  minor 
accompaniment  to  the  chatter  of  many  voices. 

A  Bedstead  on  which  Kings  Slept. 

The  New  Jersey  Building  contained  few  exhibits;  one,  however,  at- 
tracted much  attention.  A  lady  in  New  Jersey  exhibited  an  ancient 
bedstead  which,  apart  from  its  curious  construction  has  a  remarkable 
history. 

Mrs.  Mary  A.  Vreeland,  of  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  the  owner  of  the  bed- 
stead, in  a  letter  to  Major  Handy  on  the  subject,  gives  the  particulars  of 
its  eventful  career.  The  history  possessed  by  its  owner  commences 
with  its  being  mentioned  as  the  State  Bed  in  the  reign  of  Sanchoz, 
King  of  Spain,  and  presented  by  that  monarch  to  General  Diaz,  Count 
of  Bovar,  commander  of  the  Spaniards,  as  a  fitting  proof  and  graceful 
memorial  of  his  victory  over  the  Moorish  generals  in  the  eleventh  cen- 
tury. The  bedstead  was  regarded  at  that  time  as  a  sacred  object  and 
was  held  by  the  descendants  of  the  Count  of  Bovar  until  the  sixteenth 
century. 

When  Joseph  Bonaparte  ascended  the  throne  it  was  presented  to  him 
as  a  personal  gift  by  the  last  remaining  heir  to  the  Counts  of  Bovar.  It 
became  part  of  the  King's  state  furniture.  After  his  abdication  he  came 


EASTERN  AND   MIDDLE   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR. 


421 


to  this  country  and  settled  on  the  Delaware  at  Bordentown.  The  bed- 
stead was  brought  with  the  rest  of  his  effects.  Finally  he  presented  it 
to  a  member  of  the  Talleyrand  family,  (the  owner  thinks  this  must  have 
been  a  nephew  of  the  Marquis  of  Talleyrand,)  and  was  purchased  from 
him  by  the  husband  of  Mrs.  Vreeland  in  1863.  The  bedstead  is  of 
purely  Moorish  workmanship  with  heavy  columns  elaborately  carved  in 
ancient  Moorish  designs*.  It  has  a  complete  entablature  consisting  of  a 


NEW   YORK  STATE   BUILDING. 

capital,  architrave,  frieze,  and  double  cornice,  and  is  supported  on  brass 
feet.  It  is  very  massive,  and  when  all  together  it  stands  about  fourteen 
feet  high  and  is  a  marvel  of  beautiful  cabinet  and  carved  work. 

New  York. 

The  New  York  State  Building  was  of  substantial  design,  appropriate 
for  the  official  headquarters  of  one  the  oldest  and  wealthiest  states  in 
the  Union.  In  the  selection  of  the  style  of  the  building,  the  architects 
the  board  of  managers  were  guided  by  several  conditions  of  climate 
and  surroundings,  and  finally  decided  that  the  Italian  renaissance  school 
would  compare  most  favorably  with  the  larger  Exposition  buildings ; 
hence  it  was  adopted. 

The  semi-circular  porticoes,  east  and  west,  had  a  diameter  of  fifty  feet 
in  the  form  of  an  exedra,  and  the  uncovered  portion,  furnished  with  the 
fountain,  was  a  unique  feature  of  the  building.  The  entrance  to  the 
building  was  flanked  by  the  Barberini  lions  cast  in  Rome,  selected  in 
preference  to  the  lions  of  the  Villa  Medici,  which  however  fine,  are  in- 


422  EASTERN  AND   MIDDLE  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR. 

ferior  in  size.  The  four  pedestal  lamps  lighting  the  terrace  were  exact 
copies  in  bronze  of  antique  examples  in  the  Museum  at  Naples,  and 
were  richly  sculptured. 

Another  striking  feature  of  interior  adornment  was  the  arrangement 
of  the  electric  lights,  in  a  belt  course,  marking  the  second-story  floor, 
and  outlining  the  arched  entrance,  above  which  the  great  seal  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  ten  feet  high,  was  illuminated  by  a  myriad  of  tiny 
lamps  set  close  together.  A  second  line  of  illumination  accented  the 
main  cornice,  and  similar  ones  defined  the  edge  of  the  roof  garden,  and 
the  arches,  angles  and  cornices  of  the  two  belvideres.  Finally,  a  cluster 
of  lights  illuminated  the  bases  of  the  flag  pole. 

A  Remarkable  Map. 

Within  and  without  the  building  blazed  two  thousand  electric  jets.  In 
the  main  hall  on  the  first  floor,  besides  the  beautiful  fountains  scattering 
their  cooling  sprays  within  the  spacious  porticoes,  an  object  of  unusual 
interest  was  the  relief  map,  nearly  twenty  feet  in  diameter,  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  which  of  itself  cost  $30,000.  The  map  was  sixty  feet  long 
and  was  constructed  in  forty  sections,  each  of  which  weighed  three  hun- 
dred pounds.  In  illustrating  the  canals  the  greatest  care  was  paid  to 
detail.  This  is  particularly  true  regarding  the  systems  of  locks  by  which 
canal  boats  overcome  the  rises  above  the  sea  level.  The  locks  look  like 
flights  of  steps,  especially  where  they  are  grouped,  as  is  the  case  where  the 
water  shed  rises  abruptly  from  the  level,  as  it  does  on  the  Chenango 
Canal,  the  Black  River  Canal,  at  Lockport,  and  at  the  "  Sixteens,"  above 
Cohoes.  The  map  is  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  existence. 

The  main  hail  had  a  mosaic  floor  and  was  hung  with  imported  silk 
hangings.  Here  were  the  parlors  and  toilet-rooms  for  men  and  women, 
post-office,  information  and  baggage-rooms.  The  grand  stairway  was  of 
marble,  and  led  to  the  banquet  hall,  where  the  visitor  could  not  fail  to 
be  impressed  with  the  elegance  of  the  surroundings.  The  beautiful 
arched  ceiling,  three  stories  high,  was  richly  ornamented  with  designs  of 
fruits  done  in  stucco.  On  the  third  floor,  in  addition  to  twelve  rooms 
for  general  purposes,  there  was  a  gallery  for  a  band  of  music.  t 

Valuable  Relics. 

Very  interesting  indeed  was  the  collection  of  relics  brought  to  the 
New  York  State  Building  from  Staten  Island.  One  of  the  relics  was  an 
ancient  brown  milestone  which  once  told  the  wayfarer  from  Philadelphia 
how  many  miles  it  was  to  "  New  Yorke."  The  slow  erosion  of  time  has 
left  only  the  word  "  Yorke,"  and  the  edges  of  the  stone  have  been  worn 
and  eaten  by  the  wind  and  rain  of  one  hundred  years,  but  very  likely 


423 


424  EASTERN   AND   MIDDLE   STATES  AT   THE   FAIR. 

when  our  revolutionary  sires  were  girding  up  their  suspenders  for  the 
flint-lock  scrap  at  Bunker  Hill,  this  stone  was  as  much  of  a  land- 
mark on  the  old  Philadelphia  road  as  the  white  dome  between  Ghent 
and  Aix. 

Another  revolutionary  relic  is  an  old  bell  from  the  Richmond  County 
Court  House,  which  dates  its  erection  in  1794.  From  an  inscription  on 
the  bell  it  was  molded  by  "  J.  Bailey."  It  is  rusty  now  and  cracked,  yet 
the  bell  is  an  interesting  relic  of  the  olden  time  and  was  viewed  with 
great  interest  by  visitors  to  the  Empire  State  Building.  Then  there  was 
a  chair,  a  warming-pan  and  a  foot  warmer  once  used  by  Washington. 
These  useful  articles  are  now  extinct,  so  far  as  use  is  concerned,  but  the 
Staten  Islanders  looked  at  them  with  warm  hearts,  and  yearned  for  the 
good  old  times  when,  if  the  weather  was  cold,  there  were  appliances  at 
hand  that  would  make  life  worth  living,  and  a  bed  not  like  a  snow-bank 
when  crawled  into. 

The  famous  Hiawatha  wampum  was  exhibited  in  the  New  York 
Building.  Wampum  was  not  always  money  among  the  Indians,  but  was 
made  also  to  commemorate  great  events.  This  particular  piece,  which 
is  perhaps  the  finest  in  existence,  was  made  to  commemorate  the  con- 
federation of  the  Five  Nations.  It  is  about  20  by  24  inches,  and  is 
made  up  of  thousands  of  bits  of  mussel  shells.  These  are  strung 
together  by  deer  sinews,  which  form  the  woof  and  warp.  The  ground 
work  is  purple  and  the  figures  are  white.  The  center  figure,  which  is 
supposed  to  represent  a  heart,  stands  for  the  Onondaga  Nation.  To  the 
left  are  the  Oneida  and  Mohawk,  and  to  the  right  the  Cayuga  and 
Seneca  Nations,  and  each  member  of  the  confederacy  is  connected  with 
the  heart.  A  pretty  conceit  in  this  connection  is  that  this  confederation 
of  the  Five  Nations  foreshadows  the  Union  of  the  Thirteen  States. 

Delaware. 

Delaware's  State  Building  was  constructed  wholly  from  the  native 
woods  of  the  State.  It  was  extremely  picturesque  in  architectural  effect 
both  without  and  within.  The  building  is  60  by  58  feet,  and  was 
finished  with  great  care  in  all  its  details  at  a  cost  of  $7,500.  Although 
the  building  was  less  pretentious  than  those  of  many  larger  states,  the 
Delaware  Legislature  was  among  the  first  to  make  a  World's  Fair 
appropriation,  and  the  building  material  for  Delaware's  headquarters  was 
among  the  first  consignments  to  be  received  at  the  park.  The  interior 
was  decorated  in  Colonial  style,  and  contained  models  of  many  interest- 
ing edifices  in  that  state,  some  of  which  were  erected  during  the  seven- 
teenth century. 


EASTERN    AND   MIDDLE   STATES   AT  THE   FAIR. 


425 


Maryland. 

A  typical  building  of  the  old  Colonial  style  was  the  headquarters  of 
visitors  from  Maryland.  It  was  a  handsome  structure,  resembling  the 
old  manor  houses  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay  regions.  No  design  more 
appropriate  could  have  been  selected ;  it  was  chosen  in  preference  to  a 
reproduction  of  the  State  House  at  Annapolis,  as  it  was  thought 
suitable  to  show  the  quaint  style  of  architecture,  of  which  some  rare 
specimens  remain. 

Maryland  has  secured  as  its  finest  exhibit  in  the  art  line  the  cele- 


MARYLAND    STATE   BUILDING. 


brated  painting  by  Hemme,  the  subject  being,  "  Every  Soul  was  Saved." 
The  painting  commemorates  the  rescue  of  the  crew  and  passengers, 
seven  hundred  and  thirty-five  in  number,  of  the  Denmark,  by  Captain 
Murrell,  of  the  Missouri,  a  freight  vessel.  The  painting  is  the  property 
of  David  Bloundaur,  of  Baltimore,  who  loaned  it  to  the  state.  The 
building  also  contained  a  bureau  of  information,  a  fruit  and  grass 
exhibit,  and  specimens  of  the  oriole,  woodcock,  and  terrapin,  which  have 
helped  to  make  the  state  famous. 

A  small  frame  contained  a  sketch  in  colors  of  Chicago  in  1829,  by 
Frederick  Harrison,  who  was  an  assistant  government  engineer  at  the 
time  when  Chicago  was  composed  principally  of  Fort  Dearborn.  This 
sketch  is  owned  by  Lenox  Burkhead,  of  Baltimore. 


CHAPTER  XXL 
Southern  States  at  the  Fair. 

THE  great  interest  felt  in  the  Exposition  throughout  the  country 
found  expression  in  the  buildings  erected  by  the  states  and  the 
exhibits  they  furnished.     The  architecture  of  the  buildings, 
in  most  instances,  was  characteristic  of  the  state  represented. 
The  same  may  be  said  of  the  exhibits,  which  included  the  products  of 
the  various  states  whether  agricultural,  mineral  or  textile. 

Alabama. 

Alabama  erected  a  true  Southern  mansion  for  headquarters,  in  which 
was  shown  a  relief  map  in  miniature  of  the  mineral  deposits,  cotton  belt, 
vegetable  farms,  and  other  agricultural  regions  of  the  state.  The  hospi- 
tality for  which  Southerners  are  proverbial  was  freely  dispensed  to  all 
visitors,  and  the  mansion  was  popular  as  a  home-like  resort  for  people 
from  the  Sunny  South. 

Arkansas. 

The  design  of  the  Arkansas  Building  at  the  World's  Fair  followed 
classic  models,  being  in  the  French  "  Rococo  "  style  of  architecture,  as 
Arkansas  was  originally  settled  by  the  French.  The  exterior  was  in 
plaster  and  ornamental  "  staff"  work,  tinted  in  light  color.  The  interior 
was  tinted,  and  the  ornamental  work  was  brought  out  in  gold.  The 
building  had  a  ground  area  of  66  by  92  feet.  From  a  large  circular 
veranda,  which  ran  the  width  of  the  building,  an  elliptical  entrance 
opened  to  the  rotunda,  30  by  30  feet,  lighted  by  a  central  dome.  In  the 
center  of  the  rotunda  was  a  fountain  of  Hot  Springs  crystals  lighted  by 
electricity.  Flanking  the  rotunda  were  six  rooms,  fifteen  feet  square. 

Five  of  these  were  used  as  exhibit  rooms,  with  the  registry  room  on 
the  right  of  the  entrance  lobby.  Opening  from  the  rotunda,  by  triple 
arches,  was  the  hallway,  1 1  by  55  feet,  with  the  stairways  on  each  side 
of  the  arched  entrance.  At  the  rear  of  building  was  the  assembly  hall, 
25  by  65  feet,  which  was  entered  from  the  hallway  through  triple 
arches.  In  this  hall,  opposite  the  entrance,  was  a  ten-foot  mantel  of 
Arkansas  white  onyx.  Columns  and  vases  of  the  same  material  were 
426 


SOUTHERN  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR.  437 

placed  in  various  parts  of  the  building.  On  the  second  floor  were  the 
parlors  for  men  and  women,  a  library,  committee  and  officers'  rooms. 
All  of  these  rooms  opened  on  a  broad  gallery  over  the  rotunda,  lighted 
from  the  central  dome. 

Florida. 

The  Florida  building  was  a  reproduction  in  miniature  of  old  Fort 
Marion,  in  St.  Augustine.  The  fort  covers  an  area  of  four  acres.  The 
building  on  the  Fair  grounds  occupied  one-fifth  that  space.  It  was  in 
the  form  of  a  four  bastioned  fortress.  Including  the  moat,  the  site  was 
155  feet  square.  The  building  proper  was  137  feet  square.  The  frame 
was  of  pine,  covered  with  plaster  and  coquina  shells,  in  imitation  of  the 
original.  The  interior  was  divided  into  parlors  for  men  and  women, 
committee,  and  exhibit  rooms,  and  was  furnished  in  Florida's  native 
woods.  The  interior  court  was  planted  in  bamboo,  orange,  lemon,  and 
other  tropical  trees.  The  ramparts  furnished  space  for  promenades  and 
hanging  gardens.  In  the  moat  was  a  sunken  garden,  where  were  pro- 
duced miniature  fields  of  cotton,  sugar,  rice,  tobacco,  etc.,  showing  the 
natural  resources  of  the  State. 

Fort  Marion  is  the  oldest  structure  in  North  America,  the  most 
interesting  specimen  of  Spanish  supremacy  in  this  country,  and  the  only 
example  of  medieval  fortification  on  the  continent.  Its  erection  was 
begun  in  1620  and  continued  for  100  years.  To  equip  it  as  a  garrison 
required  1,000  men.  It  was  never  taken  by  a  besieging  force. 

Kentucky. 

Kentucky  had  a  handsome  building  in  the  Colonial  style  of  architec- 
ture, in  which  was  an  adequate  exhibit  of  the  state's  industries.  The 
Legislature  appropriated  $50,000  which  was  added  to  by  private  sub- 
scriptions, much  of  which  was  applied  to  the  state  building.  Over 
behind  the  Agricultural  Building  was  the  rough  log  cabin  which  con- 
tained the  Kentucky  distillery  exhibit.  It  presented  in  its  architecture 
the  picturesque  and  squalid  features  of  a  genuine  mountain  moonshiner's 
cabin.  The  building,  or  hut,  more  properly  speaking,  had  a  clay  chim- 
ney and  a  rustic  porch,  such  as  are  common  in  the  land  of  blue  grass, 
keen  horsemen,  and  "  mountain  dew,"  and  soon  became  a  landmark  for 
those  who  hailed  from  that  country. 

Louisiana. 

Louisiana   erected  a  Creole   kitchen    finished   in   the   hardwoods 
indigenous  to  that  state.     In   the  building  were  served  famous  Creole 


428 


SOUTHERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR.  429 

dishes  as  popular  in  that  part  of  the  country  as  baked  beans  are  in 
Boston.  The  decorations,  such  as  they  were,  suggested  the  products  of 
the  state,  such  as  cotton-seed  oil,  tobacco,  and  refined  sugar  and 
molasses.  It  must  be  understood  that  the  state  buildings  were  not 
intended  to  contain  all  the  exhibits  of  the  states  that  erected  them ;  these 
were  scattered  throughout  the  Fair  and  found  their  appropriate  places  in 
the  larger  buildings  which  contained  the  classified  exhibits. 

North    Carolina. 

North  Carolina  reproduced  for  its  building  what  is  known  as  the 
"  Tyron  Palace."  The  original  structure  was  composed  of  material 
brought  from  England  during  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
and  is  a  fine  type  of  Colonial  architecture. 

Tennessee. 

In  the  display  made  by  Tennessee  Memphis  showed  a  cotton  exhibit. 
About  1,350  samples  of  cotton  were  placed  on  exhibition.  The  exhibit 
was  sent  in  150  boxes,  every  box  containing  nine  grades  of  cotton. 
There  was  a  complete  line  of  samples  of  upland,  extra,  benders  and 
rivers. 

Samples  of  the  finest  cotton  brought  to  Memphis,  as  well  as  the 
poorest,  were  in  the  exhibit.  Special  attention  was  devoted  to  stained 
cotton.  There  were  samples  of  linteers  and  boll  cracks.  Samples 
showing  the  effects  of  frost  on  cotton  were  also  on  exhibition.  In  short, 
every  grade,  style  and  class  of  cotton  was  represented,  from  the  staple 
re-linter  to  the  fine  one  and  three-quarter-inch  article.  The  samples 
were  secured  from  cotton  shipped  to  Memphis  from  Tennessee.  Alabama, 
Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Arkansas,  Missouri  and  Texas. 

Texas. 

The  Lone  Star  State  had  a  handsome  building  on  a  large  lot  at  the 
north  end  of  the  grounds,  with  Kansas  and  Utah  for  near  neighbors.  It 
was  85  by  250  feet,  and  70  feet  high.  It  was  a  goo'd  example  of  the 
Spanish  renaissance,  being  modeled  after  the  old  missions,  but  of  a 
different  type  from  that  followed  in  the  California  building.  The  build- 
ing was  nearly  square,  with  a  square  tower  on  each  corner,  connected  by 
two-story  loggias.  Both  the  main  building  and  the  towers  were  roofed 
with  red-brown  Spanish  tile.  There  were  elaborate  carvings  around  the 
windows  and  in  the  spandrels  of  the  arches.  The  building  had  a  wing 
150  feet  long,  on  the  east  side,  in  the  center  of  which  was  a  richly  carved 
doorway,  through  which  one  passed  to  the  assembly  room,  committee 


SOUTHERN  STATES   AT  THE  FAIR. 


431 


rooms  and  offices  of  the  executive  commission.     The  State  of  Texas 
raised  over  $300,000  for  the  Exposition,  Galveston  alone  contributing 

$150,000. 

Virginia. 

The  Virginia  Building  was  an  exact  representation  of  the  Mount  Ver- 
non  mansion  in  Fairfax  County,  Virginia,  where  Washington  lived  for 
many  years  and  where  he  died.  The  Mount  Vernon  homestead  came 
into  George  Washington's  hands  from  his  brother,  Lawrence  Washing- 
ton. It  was  built  by  their  father  early  in  the  eighteenth  century. 

The  main  structure  was  94  feet  across  the  front  by  32  feet  deep,  with 
an  attic  and  two-story  portico  extending  the  length  of  the  front,  and 


VIRGINIA  STATE   BUILDING. 

finished  on  top  with  an  iron  railing  on  a  level  with  the  dormer  windows 
of  the  top  story.  Two  colonnades  extend  back  from  the  wings  of  the 
house  a  distance  of  twenty  feet,  each  connecting  with  a  one  and  a  half 
story  building,  40  by  20,  such  as  were  called  "  dependencies." 

Altogether  there  are  twenty-five  rooms  in  the  structure.  On  the  first 
and  second  floors  of  the  main  building  there  are  eleven  rooms,  in  the 
attic  six,  and  in  each  of  the  dependencies  four  rooms.  The  largest 
rooms  in  the  building  are  the  banquet  hall,  31  by  23  feet,  and  the  library, 
16  by  19  feet,  the  main  entrance  hall,  Washington's  chamber,  in  which 
he  died,  upon  the  second  floor,  and  Mrs.  Washington's  chamber  in  the 
attic,  to  which  she  removed  after  her  husband's  death,  and  which  she 
occupied  during  the  remainder  of  her  life  on  account  of  its  being  the 
only  room  in  the  house  which  looked  out  upon  his  tomb, 


432  SOUTHERN   STATES   AT  THE  FAIR. 

The  Old  Family  Clock. 

In  the  main  nail  is  a  large  stairway,  four  feet  wide,  ascending  by  plat' 
forms  to  the  floors  above.  On  the  first  platform  of  the  stairway  there  is 
an  old  Washington  family  clock,  a  very  interesting  historical  relic. 

This  hall  is  furnished  with  antique  sofas  and  pictures  of  the  last  cen- 
tury. The  rooms  upon  the  first  floor  are  ornamented  by  heavy  carved 
and  molded  wood  trimmings  and  handsome  mantels,  very  antique.  This 
Virginia  building  was  not  only  an  exact  representation  in  every  particular 
of  the  old  Mount  Vernon  structure,  but  everything  within  it  was  also  of 
the  same  character.  Nothing  modern  was  seen  in  the  building,  except 
the  people  and  library  of  books  by  the  Virginia  authors.  As  far  as 
could  be  done  the  building  was  furnished  with  articles  which  were 
collected  from  all  over  the  state,  the  heirlooms  of  old  Virginia  families, 
and  with  portraits  of  the  same  character.  Whatever  was  lacking  in 
furnishing  the  building  with  articles  of  this  character  was  supplied  with 
furniture  made  after  the  same  old  fashion. 

The  building  was  presided  over  by  the  lady  assistant  of  the  Virginia 
board,  Mrs.  Lucy  Preston  Beale,  a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Ballard  Preston 
Beale,  and  a  granddaughter  to  General  Preston,  a  former  Governor  of 
Virginia. 

She  had  for  the  attendants  in  the  building  old  Virginia  negroes,  and 
undertook  to  represent  in  every  particular  an  old  Virginia  home  of  the 
Colonial  period.  There  was  a  very  rare  collection  of  relics  of  Colonial 
times  and  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  everything  which  was  antique, 
among  which  was  exhibited  the  original  will  of  George  Washington. 

Relics  of  the  Colonial  Days. 

The  library  was  furnished  entirely  with  books  written  by  Virginians, 
or  relating  to  Virginia,  quite  a  large  collection  of  which  was  made,  and 
ornamented  with  old  Virginia  portraits,  views  and  other  relics  of  the 
Colonial  period  and  the  last  century.  Altogether  the  building  with  the 
furnishings  was  unique  and  unequaled  in  its  character  and  appoint- 
ments, and  nothing  like  it  exists  elsewhere  except  at  Mount  Vernon 
itself. 

The  regents  of  the  Mount  Vernon  Association  cordially  co-operated 
in  the  enterprise.  Valuable  bronzes,  paintings,  furniture,  and  other 
articles  of  Colonial  times  were  obtained  from  the  Carters,  the  Lewises, 
the  Harrisons,  the  Prestons,  and  other  old  families  of  Virginia.  Mrs. 
Kate  Green  Paul,  of  Virginia,  has  prepared  a  list  of  over  three  thousand 
books  by  Virginia  authors,  copies  of  which  were  secured  for  the  literary 


SOUTHERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR.  433 

exhibit.  Mrs.  Drewry,  of  Westover,  furnished  a  collection  of  photo- 
graphs of  notable  Colonial  homes  on  the  Lower  James.  Archaeologists 
were  interested  in  a  collection  made  by  Miss  Elizabeth  Borst  of  articles 
illustrative  of  prehistoric  life  in  Virginia,  recently  obtained  from  mounds 
near  Luray  and  other  points  in  the  valley. 

The  Virginia  Mount  Vernon  exhibit  was  varied  in  character  so  as  to 
embrace  features  that  would  not  be  included  in  a  merely  industrial 
exhibit.  Virginia's  interest  for  the  world  at  large  lies  in  her  past  as 
well  as  in  her  present.  It  is  largely  a  historic,  not  to  say  a  romantic, 
interest,  which  the  Virginia  women  thought  should  not  be  ignored  in  a 
representation  of  the  state  at  Chicago.  In  this  building  the  visitor  thus 
obtained  an  instructive  idea  of  the  civilization  and  of  the  social  and  do- 
mestic life  of  the  fathers,  such  as  could  not  otherwise  be  had. 

Rare  Portraits  of  Celebrities. 

Among  the  interesting  relics  was  a  chair  from  Brandon,  Va,  200 
years  old ;  a  mahogany  bedstead  that  was  brought  to  Virginia  before 
the  revolution ;  Peale's  portrait  of  Washington,  life  size,  the  property  of 
Mrs.  Shirly  Carter ;  a  portrait  of  the  elder  Henry  A.  Wise  and  one  of 
President  Tyler,  both  by  Gilbert  Stuart.  The  latter  were  loaned  by 
Clarence  Winthrop  Bowen  of  the  New  York  Independent,  There  were 
portraits  of  Senator  William  Giles  by  Stuart,  and  Robert  King  Carter, 
who  was  the  largest  landholder  on  the  James  River  from  1663  to  1732. 
A  bust  portrait  of  Washington,  the  early  history  of  which  is  lost,  hung 
over  the  doorway  of  Miss  Custis'  music- room,  and  in  the  room  was  a 
chenille  embroidery  on  satin  by  "  the  gentle  Mary  Custis."  An  early 
oil  painting  of  the  Prodigal  Son,  by  Benjamin  West,  hung  in  the  dining- 
room,  through  the  courtesy  of  John  S.  Wise.  A  sofa,  the  early  history 
of  which  goes  back  beyond  the  time  of  Washington,  was  in  another 
room,  and  over  the  mantel  in  the  state  banquet  room  where  Washing- 
ton entertained  Lafayette,  in  a  frame  was  a  bit  of  one  of  the  dresses  of 
Martha  Washington. 

In  this  banquet  room  was  a  finely  executed  figure  in  Parian  marble 
of  Andromache  and  Astyanax,  suggested  by  the  following  lines  from 
Homer's  Iliad : 

But  now  returning  home  thy  works  attend — 
The  loom  and  distaff,  and  direct  thy  maids 
In  household  duties ;  while  the  war  shall  be 
Of  men  the  care  ;  of  all  indeed  but  most 
The  care  of  me,  of  all  in  Ilion  born. 

The  group  is  pyramidal  in  shape  and  about  five  teet  high.     Andro- 
28 


434 


SOUTHERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR. 


mache  is  seated  with  head  slightly  bowed,  turned  to  the  right.  The 
hair  is  bound  with  a  simple  fillet.  The  right  arm  hangs  listlessly  at  the 
side,  the  hand  partially  closed,  and  the  wrist  touching  an  owl-headed 
vase,  which  stands  upon  a  low  pedestal,  and  is  half  concealed  in  drapery. 
The  left  arm  clasps  Astyanax,  who  is  seated  upon  a  stool  which  is  cov- 
ered with  a  lion's  skin,  the  head  serving  to  support  one  of  the  feet  of 
the  child.  The  left  foot  of  Andromache  rests  upon  a  miniature  foot- 
stool and  the  right  upon  the  pedestal  proper  of  the  group.  On  the  lap 
of  Andromache  lies  the  distaff  and  thread,  symbolic  of  human  life,  indi- 
cating that  at  least  she  has  attempted  to  obey  Hector's  behest,  while 
the  expression  on  her  face  denotes  that  her  mind  is  occupied  with 
thoughts  foreboding  the  inexorable  decree  of  the  Fates,  which  culmi- 
nated in  Hector's  death,  the  fall  of  Troy,  and  her  own  bondage. 

This  work  is  by  Valentine,  the  sculptor  who  executed  the  recumbent 
statue  of  Lee  to  be  seen  in  Richmond. 

The  janitress  of  Mount  Vernon  at  the  Fair  was  an  an  old  colored 
woman,  Sarah  Washington,  who  was  the  wife  of  the  cook  of  John  A. 
Washington. 

Washington's     Swords. 

An  interesting  historical  relic  was  the  sword  which  George  Washing- 
ton wore  December  23,  1783,  at  Annapolis  Md.,  when  he  resigned  his 
commission  as  Commander-in-chief  of  the  United  States  armies.  The 
relic  is  at  present  the  property  of  Miss  Virginia  Taylor  Lewis,  of  Balti- 
more, in  whose  family  it  has  been  preserved  as  an  heirloom  since  the 
days  of  Washington.  It  has  descended  to  Miss  Lewis  from  her  great- 
grandfather, Major  George  Lewis,  son  of  Washington's  only  sister, 
Betty. 

The  sword  is  always  jealously  guarded,  and  is  kept  in  a  handsome 
mahogany  casket,  on  the  lid  of  which,  on  a  silver  tablet,  is  the  following 
attestation  : 

"  The  sword  was  left  to  my  grandfather  by  will,  as  follows  :  'To  each 
of  my  nephews,  W.  A.  W.,  George  Lewis,  G.  S.  W.,  B.  W.,  and 
S.  W.  I.,  I  give  one  of  the  swords  of  which  I  may  die  possessed,  and 
they  are  to  choose  in  the  order  named.  These  swords  are  given  with 
the  injunction  not  to  unsheath  the  swords  for  the  purpose  of  shed- 
ding blood  except  in  self-defense,  or  in  defense  of  their  country  and 
its  rights.  And,  in  the  latter  case,  to  keep  them  unsheathed,  and  to 
prefer  falling  with  them  in  their  hands  to  the  relinquishment  thereof.' 
Dulcc  et  decorum  cst  pro  patria  mori." 

The  nephew  first  named  selected  the  sword  presented  to  Washington 


435 


436  SOUTHERN   STATES  AT  THE  FAIR. 

by  Frederick  the  Great,  of  Prussia.  This  sword  was  purchased  by  the 
state  of  New  York  for  $20,000.  The  one  chosen  by  Major  Lewis  was 
worn  by  him  on  many  historic  occasions.  It  is  a  dress  sword.  Its 
handle  is  of  silver ;  its  blade  is  bayonet-shaped,  and  its  scabbard  is  of 
parchment.  The  belt  attached  to  it  is  made  of  webbed  silk.  A  bill 
for  the  purchase  of  the  sword  by  the  United  States  Government  was 
introduced  in  the  Fiftieth  Congress,  but  did  not  progress  further  than 
the  second  reading.  Miss  Lewis  sent  the  sword  to  Chicago  for  exhibi- 
tion at  the  World's  Fair. 

West  Virginia. 

The  West  Virginia  Building  was  in  the  Colonial  style,  two  stories 
high,  with  a  pitched  roof,  the  outer  walls  being  weather-boarded  and 
painted.  It  was  representative  of  the  West  Virginia  residence.  The 
roof  was  shingled.  The  interior  was  finished  in  hard  woods,  the  walls 
were  plastered,  and  the  ceilings  were  of  ornamental  iron  work  from 
Wheeling.  All  of  the  exposed  material  in  the  building  was  the  product 
of  the  state.  The  main  entrance  was  on  the  west,  on  a  platform  porch. 
Above  the  entrance  was  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  state  in  bas-relief. 
Within  the  entrance  was  a  vestibule,  with  rooms  for  the  boards  of  com- 
missioners on  either  side.  Beyond  the  vestibule  was  a  large  reception 
hall  flanked  by  parlors  for  women  and  men. 

Back  of  these  parlors  were  toilet  and  retiring  rooms.  On  the  second 
floor  front  were  two  committee  rooms,  and  the  balance  of  the  floor  con- 
stituted an  assembly-room  and  reception  hall,  34  by  76  feet  in  size. 
There  were  four  large  fireplaces  in  the  building,  two  on  each  floor,  with 
very  handsome  carved  wood  mantels.  The  building  had  a  ground  area 
of  58  by  123  feet,  including  the  semi-circular  verandas  on  the  north  and 
south.  Its  wide  entrance  and  the  broad  verandas,  extending  around 
both  wings,  afforded  delightful  resting  places  for  visitors  during  the 
Fair.  The  exhibit  was  especially  interesting  in  the  departments  of 
horticulture,  forestry,  mining  and  the  liberal  arts,  coming  as  it  did  from 
a  state  peculiarly  rich  in  respect  to  all  of  these. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 
Western  States  at  the  Fair. 

THE  heartiness  with  which  the  western  states  entered  into  the 
project  of  celebrating  the  great  anniversary  by  an  International 
Fair  was  shown   in  their  large  appropriations  of  money  and 
their   comprehensive    exhibits.     The  people  of  the  different 
.states  acted  with  great  unanimity  and  gave  to  the  undertaking  an  enthu- 
siastic support.     In  a  number  of  instances  elaborate  and  costly  buildings 
were  erected,  and  these  were  not  least  among  the  objects  of  interest  at 
the  Exposition. 

Illinois. 

Just  to  the  south  of  the  Art  Palace,  across  the  north  arm  of  the  la- 
goon, stands  the  Illinois  Building.  It  is  somewhat  larger  and  more  cen- 
trally located  than  the  other  State  Buildings,  as  befits  that  of  the  com- 
monwealth which  plays  the  part  of  host  at  the  Fair,  and  Illinois  has 
made  ample  appropriation  to  meet  this  responsibility.  The  designers, 
W.  W.  Boyington  &  Co.,  of  Chicago,  estimated  its  cost  at  $250.000. 

This  building  is  by  far  the  most  pretentious  of  the  State  Buildings, 
and  can  be  classed  as  one  of  the  great  Exposition  structures.  The  plan 
of  the  building  forms  a  Greek  cross,  whose  main  axis  is  450  feet  long  by 
160  feet  wide,  and  lies  east  and  west,  while  the  shorter  axis  is  285  feet 
long  with  an  average  width  of  98  feet.  At  the  intersection  of  the 
arms  of  the  cross  rises  the  dome,  with  a  diameter  of  75  feet  at  the  base, 
and  a  height  of  152  feet  to  the  top  of  the  inner  dome.  This  dome  has, 
besides,  a  continuation  of  the  gallery,  15  feet  above  the  floor,  that  runs 
around  the  main  hall,  and  another,  96  feet  above  the  floor,  reached 
by  two  circular  stairs  in  piers  of  dome. 

At  the  east  and  west  are  two  large  public  entrances,  at  either  side  of 
which  are  rooms  extending  the  entire  width  of  the  building,  and  about 
29  feet  deep,  occupying  the  whole  height,  which  is  divided  into  three 
stories.  The  rooms  at  the  east  end  are  chiefly  used  for  school  exhibi- 
bition  purposes,  a  large  one  on  the  ground  floor  being  fitted  up  as  a 
model  kindergarten.  Beyond  this  extends  the  great  exhibition  hall, 
381  feet  long,  the  central  portion,  75  feet  wide,  being  flanked  by  aisles 
40  feet  wide.  The  central  division  is  lighted  by  windows  in  the  clere- 
story, and  by  roof  lights,  it  being  67  feet  from  the  floor  to  the  roof. 

437 


438  WESTERN  STATES  AT  THE   FAIR. 

The  hall  has  a  continuous  gallery  16  feet  wide  and  fifteen  feet  above  the 
floor.  The  aisles  are  lighted  by  large  semi-circular  windows  on  the 
side  walls.  The  southern  part  of  the  short  arm  of  the  cross  is  121  feet 
wide,  and  extends  75  feet  beyond  the  walls  of  the  main  building.  The 
lines  of  its  cornice,  being  extended  back  across  the  main  building,  form 
the  external  base  from  which  the  dome  springs.  Its  three  stories  are 
sub-divided  into  rooms,  halls,  corridors,  etc. 

Spacious  Apartments. 

This  is  the  official  part  of  the  building,  where  the  Governor  of  the 
state  and  his  suite  and  the  members  of  the  board  of  commissioners  meet 
to  transact  business.  Some  of  the  rooms  have  been  set  aside  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  women's  board.  The  northern  arm  of  the  cross 
is  a  fire-proof  building,  seventy-five  feet  wide  and  extending  fifty  feet 
beyond  the  main  building.  Its  walls  are  brick,  covered  with  "staff;" 
its  roof  is  galvanized  iron  and  glass,  supported  by  steel  trusses.  This 
building  is  called  the  memorial  hall,  and  is  intended  to  contain  memori- 
als of  the  state  that  are  now  preserved  in  the  State  Capitol  at  Springfield. 

The  design  of  the  building  is  an  adaptation  of  Italian  renaissance. 
The  exterior  accentuates  the  plan  and  construction  of  the  building,  no 
seemingly  constructional  feature  being  added  for  effect.  Advantage  has 
been  taken  of  the  plastic  character  of  the  outside  covering  in  a  lavish 
use  of  ornament,  the  solids,  as  a  rule,  being  highly  enriched,  with  here 
and  there  a  severe  treatment  for  contrast. 

The  base  of  the  dome  rises  from  a  series  of  steps  upon  which  is  a 
double  support  to  the  drum,  the  outer  one  being  an  order  of  Corinthian 
columns,  the  inner  being  a  wall,  pierced  by  windows.  Above  the  entab- 
lature rises  the  drum,  which  is  covered  with  galvanized  iron ;  the  trusses 
are  accented  on  the  outside  by  prominent  ribs,  and  the  intermediate 
spaces  are  paneled.  A  round  lantern  on  top,  12  feet  in  diameter,  and  35 
feet  high,  is  the  crowning  feature. 

No  expense  is  spared  to  make  this  building  attractive  and  beautiful. 
Within,  it  is  well  ventilated,  and  ornamented  with  fine  carvings  and' 
statuary.  Without,  from  its  portals  can  be  had  some  of  the  finest  views 
across  the  Exposition  grounds.  Its  wide  stone  steps,  leading  down  to 
the  lagoon,  are  bordered  with  beautiful  terraces,  adorned  with  flowers, 
fountains  and  groups  of  statuary. 

A  View  of  the  Interior. 

Taking  a  look  now  through  the  building  we  find  that  the  agricultural 
exhibit  is  very  choice.  Grain,  grasses  and  corn  have  seen  used  exten- 


440  WESTERN  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR. 

sively  in  the  decorations,  and  there  are  3,600  receptacles  for  the  seed 
and  grain  display. 

There  are  1 80  varieties  of  wheat,  more  than  I  oo  varieties  of  corn, 
and  1 20  varieties  of  wild  grasses,  besides  other  cereals  and  veget- 
ables. One  of  the  ornaments  of  this  section  is  the  mural  panel.  It  rep- 
resents an  Illinois  farm  of  160  acres,  witli  buildings,  fallow  and  growing 
grain  fields,  stock  and  poultry,  all  worked  in  different  grains.  The  frame 
is  made  of  yellow  corn,  and  draped  with  a  curtain  of  grasses  eighty  yards 
in  length.  On  one  of  the  pilasters  against  the  rear  wall  of  the  agricul- 
tural display  is  a  corn-stalk  fourteen  feet  high,  which  has  a  root  twelve 
feet  long. 

Professor  McAdam,  of  Alton,  arranged  the  archaeological  and  geolog- 
ical display  from  the  State  Museum.  He  has  a  great  exhibit  of  the  stone 
age.  The  specimens  were  dug  from  the  Illinois  Indian  mounds.  Quite 
a  number  of  the  specimens  are  from  Calhoun  County.  This  exhibit  is 
arranged  in  artistic  forms  in  the  cases. 

In  a  recess  of  one  of  the  suite  of  rooms  is  the  headquarters  of  Mrs.  H. 
H.  Candee,  of  Cairo,  and  her  corps  of  assistants.  They  have  a  lot  of 
tables  in  their  rooms  which  are  filled  with  specimens  of  ceramic  art,  all 
of  which  are  painted  by  Illinois  women. 

Exquisite  "Wax  "Work. 

A  bit  of  work  of  which  the  ladies  in  charge  of  woman's  work  in  the 
Illinois  Building  are  particularly  proud  is  a  case  of  wax  flowers  of  exquis- 
ite workmanship.  It  is  the  work  of  a  young  girl  in  Williamson  County, 
whose  opportunity  for  any  development  of  love  of  the  beautiful  has  been 
exceedingly  limited.  Her  life  was  passed  upon  a  farm  and  her  time  was 
filled  with  the  arduous  duties  which  are  the  lot  of  a  farmer's  daughter  of 
the  poorer  class.  Only  once  did  she  ever  see  any  formation  of  wax 
flowers  by  any  one  else,  but  that  once  did  for  her  what  months  of  train- 
ing often  fails  to  accomplish  for  many  of  her  more  fortunate  sisters.  The 
material  used  is  the  refuse  wax  from  the  comb,  heated  and  bleached  by 
herself,  while  the  coloring  is  done  with  rough  paints.  The  tools  used 
are  a  pen-knife  and  hair-pin.  The  result  is  marvelous.  Lilies  of  the  val- 
ley, fuchsias,  dahlias,  honeysuckles,  and  roses  attest  the  delicacy  of  touch 
and  love  of  the  beautiful — nature's  rare  gift  to  this  humble  farm  girl. 

Women  artists  of  Illinois  are  represented  by  more  than  two  hundred 
paintings  in  the  big  state  building  at  Jackson  Park.  About  100  of  these 
are  contributed  by  members  of  the  Palette  Club  and  the  remainder  by 
painters  from  the  state  at  large  and  by  artists  of  Chicago  who  are  not 
members  of  the  Palette  Club. 


WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR. 


441 


THE  DANCERS — DECORATION    IN    ILLINOIS   BUILDING. 


THE    DRAMA DECORATION    IN    ILLINOIS    BUILDING. 


442  WESTERN   STATES  AT  THE   FAIR. 

Many  interesting  relics  are  shown.  One  is  a  satin  slipper  125  years 
old.  It  is  brought  to  an  extremely  sharp  point  at  the  toe,  and  the  heel 
is  very  high,  tapering  to  about  the  size  of  a  nickel  at  the  bottom.  The 
slipper  is  yellow  with  age  now,  but  with  its  mate  it  doubtless  assisted 
some  fair  dame  through  the  stately  dances  of  the  last  century.  George 
Washington  is  represented  by  a  silver  and  gold  knee-buckle,  made  in 
1776,  and  there  is  a  straw-inlaid  spice-box  with  six  compartments,  which 
was  brought  to  America  in  1789.  Sixteenth  century  silver  plate  is  not 
very  common  in  this  country,  but  several  pieces  have  been  found  in  this 
state  and  are  shown  with  the  other  curious  things.  One  piece  is 
nearly  three  feet  in  diameter  and  very  heavy.  An  old  pitch  pipe  has  also 
been  secured.  It  is  said  to  be  200  years  old,  and  it  looks  it. 

A  number  of  relics  of  General  Grant  are  in  the  building.  The  most 
interesting  historic  relic  of  this  collection  is  the  saddle  on  which  Grant 
rode  through  his  various  campaigns,  and  which  he  presented  at  the  close 
of  the  war  to  the  late  Dr.  E.  D.  Kittoe,  of  Galena. 

Rare  Exhibit  of  Fish  and  Birds. 

One  of  the  most  attactive  exhibits  of  the  Illinois  Building  is  that  of  the 
State  Fisheries  Department.  Pyramidal  series  of  shallow  tanks  was  con- 
structed in  which  the  Illinois  fish  disport  themselves.  These  tanks  are 
connected  by  fish-ways  which  enable  them  to  travel  up  and  down  the 
group  of  cascades  with  the  utmost  ease. 

The  tanks  are  masked  in  by  artificial  rock  work,  and  further  decorated 
by  aquatic  and  semi-aquatic  plants  indigenous  to  this  state.  A  rustic 
bridge  is  constructed  over  the  largest  tank  that  visitors  may  more  con- 
veniently observe  the  fish.  From  a  conspicuous  central  point  in  the  rock 
work  falls  a  graceful  cascade  of  water,  veiling  a  large  grotto,  built  in 
close  imitation  of  the  limestone  caves  of  Illinois. 

There  is  a  fine  exhibit  illustrating  the  birds  of  Illinois.  The  ornithol- 
ogical display  is  from  the  Illinois  University,  at  Champaign.  In  the  col- 
lection are  over  340  varieties  of  birds  found  in  the  state.  In  making  the 
collection  Professor  Adams  visited  the  adjacent  states  to  obtain  speci- 
mens of  the  migratory  birds  of  Illinois,  which  were  out  of  season  here, 
and  succeeded  in  securing  a  mounted  pair  of  every  species  belonging  to 
the  state.  In  mounting  the  specimens  every  art  in  taxidermy  was 
brought  into  play.  The  collection  contains  specimens  mounted  as  dead 
game,  as  well  as  those  mounted  to  display  plumage  and  life.  In  arrang- 
ing the  birds  a  large  bald  eagle  was  mounted  to  resemble  the  coat  of  arms 
of  the  state  and  overlooks  the  whole  exhibit. 


WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR.  443 

Ohio. 

Passing  on  we  come  to  the  Ohio  Building.  This  building  is  Colonial 
in  style,  two  stories  high,  of  wood  and  "  staff,"  with  tile  roof.  The  ground 
area  is  100  feet  front  by  80  feet  deep.  The  main  entrance  on  the  east  is 
within  a  semi-circular  colonial  portico,  thirty-three  feet  high,  the  roof 
supported  by  eight  great  columns.  The  tile  roof,  mantels,  finishing 
woods,  and  much  of  the  visible  material  are  the  gift  of  Ohio  producers. 
The  main  entrance  opens  on  a  lobby,  on  the  left  of  which  is  the  woman's 
parlor,  and  on  the  right  a  committee-room.  Occupying  the  central  por- 
tion of  the  building  is  the  reception-hall,  23  by  36  feet,  and  28  feet  high, 
extending  through  to  the  roof.  The  coved  ceiling  of  the  hall  is  orna- 
mented. Back  of  the  reception-hall  is  an  open  court  thirty-six  feet 
square,  enclosed  on  three  sides,  the  north  and  south  sides  being  formed 
by  the  wings  of  the  building. 

All  of  the  north  wing  is  occupied  by  the  information  bureau.  The 
room  is  30  by  59  feet,  and  is  divided  into  offices  by  wire  railings.  In 
the  south  wing  is  the  parlor  for  men,  a  writing-room,  a  smoking-room, 
and  toilet-rooms.  On  the  second  floor  of  the  north  wing  is  the  assem- 
bly-room, 30  by  42  feet  The  second  floor  of  the  south  wing  has  a  press 
correspondents'  room,  servants'  rooms,  bed  and  bathrooms. 

The  external  of  the  building  is  of  a  simple,  dignified  character.  The 
roof  is  of  red  tiles  from  New  Philadelphia,  Ohio,  and  buckeyes,  molded 
in  stucco,  form  the  plan  of  decoration  in  the  main  hall.  Over  the  large 
recessed  fire-place  in  the  main  hall  the  coat-of-arms  of  the  state  appears 
in  ornamental  stained  glass.  Other  windows  of  a  similar  character 
about  the  building  bear  the  names  of  men  whom  the  whole  nation,  as 
well  as  the  Buckeye  State,  delights  to  honor. 

Dedication  of  the  Ohio  Building. 

The  dedication  of  the  Ohio  State  Building,  October  2ist,  1892,  was 
the  occasion  of  a  great  Buckeye  reunion.  Not  only  was  there  a  large 
throng  of  visiting  Ohioans  present  at  the  exercises,  but  their  fellow-citi- 
zens and  old  friends  and  neighbors  who  are  now  living  in  Chicago,  also 
turned  out  in  full  force,  and  with  pride  and  loyalty  for  the  state  of  their 
birth  to  do  honor  to  the  event.  About  n  o'clock  a  long  string  of  car- 
riages, filled  with  visiting  Ohioans,  started  from  the  vicinity  of  the 
Auditorium  and,  escorted  by  the  first  Cleveland  Troop,  the  Cleveland 
Grays  and  Toledo  Cadets,  went  down  Michigan  Avenue  to  the  Fair 
Grounds  and,  after  making  a  tour  of  the  ground,  drew  up  at  the  Ohio 
Building.  The  occupants  of  the  vehicles  numbered  above  200  and  in- 


WESTERN  STATES  AT  THE   FAIR.  445 

eluded  the  two  United  States  Senators  from  Ohio,  three  Representatives 
in  Congress,  Messrs.  Outhwaite,  Layton  and  Houk,  and  nearly  all  the 
State  officers  and  public  servants  connected  with  the  Ohio  civil  service, 
from  the  Governor  down  to  his  humblest  appointee. 

An  opening  prayer  was  offered  by  the  Rev.  John  Dane,  an  Ohio  State 
Senator,  and  then  Hon.  W.  W.  Peabody,  president  of  the  Ohio  Board  of 
World's  Fair  Managers,  made  a  presentation  address,  turning  the  build- 
ing over  to  the  state  of  Ohio.  Governor  McKinley  accepted  the  struc- 
ture on  behalf  of  the  state.  He  praised  the  building  and  its  fine 
location,  and  then  referring  to  the  events  of  the  week  remarked  that 
Chicago  had  amply  demonstrated  that  Congress  had  made  no  mistake  in 
selecting  it  as  the  World's  Fair  city.  The  Fair,  he  predicted,  would  be 
the  greatest  exposition  of  the  advancement  of  arts  and  manufactures 
and  of  civilization  that  the  world  has  ever  witnessed.  This  Exposition 
was  not  only  a  thank-offering  for  the  discovery  of  a  new  world,  it  was 
in  its  highest  sense  a  hallelujah  of  the  universe  for  the  triumphs  of  civil 
liberty  and  of  Christian  civilization. 

Massachusetts  and  Virginia,  he  said,  joined  in  holy  wedlock  and  Ohio 
was  the  first  born.  The  people  of  the  state  were  the  descendants  of 
Puritans  and  the  Cavalier.  There  was  no  weak  blood  there.  In  closing 
he  promised  that  Ohio  would  take  a  foremost  place  among  the  states 
exhibited  at  the  World's  Fair.  No  state  would  present  greater  variety 
of  production  or  better.  Senator  Sherman  followed  the  Governor.  He 
made  an  entertaining  little  speech  and  was  frequently  applauded. 

Huge  Blocks  of  Coal. 

In  the  Mines  and  Mining  Building  Ohio  erected  a  handsome  pavilion 
constructed  entirely  of  native  stone  and  brick  of  home  production. 
There  are  600  different  varieties  of  stone  in  the  state.  Between  300  and 
400  of  them  were  gathered  to  make  the  walls  of  the  pavilion. 

The  larger  part  of  the  material  inside  the  pavilion  is  from  the  coal 
mines  of  the  Buckeye  State.  One  block  shows  a  vein  nine  feet  thick. 
It  comes  from  Perry  County  and  is  unequaled  in  the  whole  building. 
Other  coal  regions  are  represented  by  cubes  of  coal  two  to  three  feet  in 
size.  Thirty  different  grades  of  coal  produced  in  Ohio  are  thus  shown. 
Petroleum  is  exhibited  in  small  glass  vessels.  There  are  also  paraffine, 
coloring  materials,  and  all  the  products  from  petroleum.  A  general  ex- 
hibit of  scientific  mining  is  made  by  the  State  University.  There  is 
pottery  of  many  kinds,  iron  ore,  commercial  clays,  and  many  other 
things  which  come  from  beneath  Buckeye  soil.  The  form  of  the  pavilion 
is  that  of  a  Roman  circus. 


446  WESTERN  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR. 

A  Roman  temple  is  built  in  Agricultural  Building.  There  the  agri- 
culture and  food  products  of  Ohio  are  shown.  All  the  exhibits  are  on 
the  outside  of  the  temple.  The  interior  is  devoted  to  the  library, 
maps,  charts,  and  statistics  of  grain  raised  and  prices  at  which  it  is  sold. 
The  grain  is  shown  in  glass  cases. 

In  the  Forestry  Building  the  structure  erected  by  Ohio  is  of  Roman 
classic  design.  The  columns  are  made  of  the  trunks  of  different  trees. 
There  are  in  the  structure  eighty  varieties  of  wood,  160  varieties  of 
veneers,  and  100  kinds  of  medicinal  trees.  In  the  Manufactures  Build- 
ing Ohio's  standing  among  the  States  of  the  Union  as  a  great  manufac- 
turing center  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  its  products  fill  a  large  part  of 
the  American  section.  Safes,  hardware,  stoves,  boilers,  heaters,  sewing 
machines,  glass,  brick,  jewelry,  chemicals,  statuary,  hollow  ware,  and 
stationery  are  but  a  few  of  the  items  of  the  grand  total. 

Liberal  Arts  Exhibit. 

Over  in  the  other  corner  of  the  Manufactures  Building,  in  the  broad 
space  devoted  to  the  Department  of  Liberal  Arts,  Ohio  has  done  well. 
Exhibits  are  made  by  the  normal  schools  at  Lebanon  and  Ada,  the  Wil- 
berforce  and  Wesleyan  Universities,  and  Oberlin  College.  Machinery 
showing  shop  work  of  the  manual  training  schools  at  Cincinnati  and 
Toledo  is  set  up  and  is  in  active  operation.  In  the  section  set  apart  for 
charities  and  corrections  a  Cleveland  firm  shows  a  full  line  of  jail 
equipment. 

The  wine-growers  of  Northern  Ohio  have  a  beautiful  presentation  of 
their  industry  in  Horticultural  Building.  It  takes  the  form  of  a  hollow 
column,  surrounded  by  wine  bottles.  The  whole  is  lighted  by  elec- 
tricity, the  column  constantly  revolving.  Buckeye  florists  also  have 
much  material  in  Horticultural  Hall.  In  both  Machinery  Hall  and  the 
Transportation  Building  Ohio  manufacturers  occupy  a  large  space. 

Michigan. 

Looking  farther  we  come  to  the  Michigan  State  Building.  It  is 
located  at  the  intersection  of  two  of  the  finest  avenues  in  Jackson  Park. 
It  has  a  ground  area  of  100  by  140  feet,  is  three  stories  in  height,  and  is 
intended  mainly  as  a  comfortable  and  convenient  home  for  Michigan 
visitors.  Each  county  was  asked  to  contribute  views  of  its  natural 
scenery  and  its  notable  buildings  and  portraits  of  its  prominent  citizens, 
to  be  displayed  in  the  building.  The  first  floor  is  devoted  to  the  use  of 
visitors,  the  second  contains  three  large  exhibit  rooms,  one  of  which  is 
arranged  for  meetings,  lectures,  concerts  or  social  entertainments,  and  a 


448  WESTERN  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR. 

smaller  room  for  board  and  committee.  The  third  floor  is  arranged  for 
sleeping-rooms  for  employes.  The  gentlemen's  reception  room,  43  by 
37  feet,  on  the  first  floor  was  finished  and  decorated  by  the  city  of  Sagi- 
naw  at  an  expense  of  $5,000,  and  the  gentlemen's  reading-room,  size  26 
by  34  feet,  on  the  same  floor,  was  finished  by  the  city  of  Muskegon  at  a 
cost  of  about  $4,500. 

The  ladies'  parlor,  size  32  by  42  feet,  also  on  the  principal  floor,  was 
finished  and  furnished  by  the  city  of  Grand  Rapids  at  an  approxi- 
mate outlay  of  not  less  than  $10,000.  The  room  is  finished  in  stucco 
of  ornate  design  and  hung  with  beautiful  tapestries.  The  woodwork 
throughout  is  enamel  white.  In  one  of  the  exhibition  rooms  on  the 
second  floor  the  State  University  of  Michigan  shows  a  very  complete 
collection  of  native  birds,  animals  and  reptiles,  and  in  another  room  is 
shown  all  the  crude  resources  of  the  state,  consisting  of  metals,  woods, 
cereals,  etc.  The  assembly  room  on  the  second  floor  is  devoted  to  re- 
ligious exercises,  and  to  musicales  and  social  entertainments.  As  in  all 
the  principal  rooms,  this  is  provided  with  a  piano,  and  in  addition  has  a 
pipe  organ,  built  in  Detroit  expressly  for  this  occasion.  A  room  on  the 
second  floor  devoted  to  representatives  of  the  press  contains  files  of  all 
Michigan  papers.  The  rotunda,  three  stories  in  height,  has  balustrades 
on  each  floor,  and  a  handsomely  frescoed  ceiling.  In  the  building  is  a 
bureau  of  information,  postoffice,  news-room,  barber  shop,  check-room, 
and  ladies'  retiring  room.  A  large  clock  in  the  tower,  at  an  altitude  of 
131  feet  can  be  plainly  read  from  the  railroad  trains  outside  the 
grounds.  The  building  is  lighted  inside  and  outside  by  500  incandes- 
cents.  Its  total  cost  to  the  state  was  $36,000  in  addition  to  the 
amounts  contributed  by  other  parties,  amounting  to  $20,000  more. 

Michigan  Farm  Products. 

In  the  Agricultural  Building,  in  almost  the  center,  the  Michigan  space 
for  her  agricultural  exhibits  is  found.  It  contains  about  2,000  square 
feet.  Here  is  found  a  collection  of  the  varied  agricultural  products  of 
the  state.  On  top  of  the  central  pavilion  are  two  deer,  both  brought 
from  the  woods  of  Michigan.  The  exhibit  comes  from  all  parts  of  the 
state,  and  comprises  wheat,  corn,  oats,  peas,  beans,  buckwheat,  rye, 
clover  and  other  kinds  of  seeds,  timothy,  popcorn,  butternuts,  walnuts, 
hickory  nuts,  beechnuts,  hazlenuts,  turnips,  beets,  cabbages,  cucumbers, 
tomatoes,  potatoes,  rutabagas,  melons,  citrons,  peppermints,  blackber- 
ries, raspberries,  squash,  and  many  other  products  of  this  fertile  state. 

The  state  is  known  as  a  great  fruit-producing  country,  but  the 
greatest  part  of  this  exhibit  is  in  Horticultural  Hall.  Maryland  is 


WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR.  449 

her  only  competitor  in  the  peach-raising  industry.  She  is  a  Beading 
state  in  the  culture  of  fish,  for  the  lakes  are  filled  with  them,  and  the 
state  is  filled  with  lakes.  At  Petoskey  is  a  branch  of  the  government 
fish  hatchery,  but  this  interesting  feature,  that  is  a  source  of  pride  to 
Wolverines,  is  more  fully  exhibited  in  the  Fisheries  Building.  There 
are  also  exhibits  of  pomology,  horticulture,  and  live  stock. 

A  large  section  of  space  is  devoted  to  an  exhibit  by  the  Agricultural 
College,  located  at  Lansing,  the  capital  of  the  state.  It  has  about  800 
students,  who  work  the  experimental  farms.  In  the  Manufactures 
Building  the  students  have  an  exhibit  of  the  work  done  in  their  ma- 
chine shops,  laboratories,  etc. 

From  Mines  in  Michigan. 

Michigan  has  more  space  in  the  Mines  and  Mining  Building  than 
any  other  state  in  the  Union.  The  exhibit  is  a  beauty.  Over  the  en- 
trance to  the  show  is  a  vast  archway,  built  of  Michigan  sandstone  from 
four  different  quarries,  and  set  in  it  are  shields  of  different  Michigan 
ores  and  mineral  products.  Inside  the  arch,  or  rather  under  it,  is  a 
fountain,  from  which  flow  mineral  waters  from  the  state,  and  above  it  is 
a  frieze,  made  of  copper,  showing  brownies  at  work  in  the  mines.  It  is 
a  beautiful  conception,  and  does  credit  to  the  architect,  Mr.  Charlton,  of 
Marquette  and  Superior. 

The  exhibit  of  minerals  was  one  of  the  finest  ever  put  together,  and 
is  taken  in  part  from  private  collections.  There  are  specimens  of  copper 
of  all  sorts,  rag  copper,  nail  copper,  block  copper  and  every  other  kind 
found.  Then  there  is  iron  ore  some  of  the  richest  ever  dug,  gold  found 
near  Is*hpeming,  and  the  specimens  shown  assay  at  least  $10,000 
to  the  ton.  Then  there  is  silver,  marble  of  different  kinds  and  colors, 
verde  antique,  serpentine,  which  is  a  finer  grade  of  verde  antique, 
granite,  whetstones  from  native  navaculite,  graphite,  fire  clay  and  com- 
mon clay,  fire  sands,  coal,  amethyst,  agate  and  chlorastrolites.  This  is 
an  exceedingly  beautiful  mineral.  It  is  found  only  in  Spain  and  on  Isle 
Royal  in  Michigan.  If  it  were  not  for  the  fact  that  it  is  not  very  durable 
it  would  be  very  valuable.. 

Carnelian  of  all  sorts  of  colors  is  shown,  as  well  as  grape  ores,  kidney 
ores,  epidotes,  needle  iron  ore,  amygdaloid,  pipe  ore,  calcite  crystals  con- 
taining native  copper,  and  so  on  through  a  list  that  would  drive  anyone 
but  a  mineralogist  mad. 

Curious  Prehistoric  Tools. 

Among  the  curious  exhibits  that  please  every  man  who  had  to  study 
geography  in  his  earlier  days  is  a  collection  of  prehistoric  tools  found  in 
29 


450  WESTERN   STATES  AT  THE  FAIR. 

the  mines.  Nobody  knows  how  these  people  made  them,  and  there  is 
a  great  deal  of  unsatisfied  curiosity  concerning  them.  They  are  made 
of  chunks  of  native  copper  and  are  in  the  form  of  spear-heads,  arrow- 
heads, hammers,  adzes,  and  other  things.  These  people  had  a  way  of 
making  the  copper  very  hard,  and  that  is  something  that  modern  genius 
has  not  yet  found  out  how  to  accomplish.  These  tools  are  from  the 
Chassel  collection,  and  are  very  valuable. 

In  the  center  of  the  exhibit  are  two  tall  pyramids  of  copper.  One  is 
made  of  copper  wire,  and  at  the  base  is  a  copper  wire,  electrically 
welded,  over  three  miles  long.  It  is  the  longest  ever  made,  and  is  of 
No.  i-o  wire.  The  other  column  is  made  of  sheet  copper.  A  fence 
surrounds  an  exhibit  in  the  center,  and  the  fence  is  fashioned  out  of  huge 
bars  of  copper,  about  four  feet  long  and  four  by  five  inches  in  other  di- 
mensions. There  are  also  some  huge  pieces  of  copperas  found  in  the 
copper  regions  of  the  Upper  Peninsula.  One  piece  of  native  copper 
weighs  more  than  6,000  pounds,  and  there  are  several  of  them  nearly  as 
large. 

Another  curious  exhibit  is  a  tree  trunk,  a  maple  about  twenty-six 
inches,  bitten  almost  in  two  by  beavers.  The  teeth  marks  are  very  plain 
and  the  specimen  is  about  four  times  the  size  of  any  other  ever  found. 
Take  it  altogether,  the  mines'  exhibit  of  the  State  of  Michigan  is  a 
wonderful  thing.  It  is  in  keeping  with  the  work  of  the  commissioners 
of  that  state  in  all  of  the  departments. 

Michigan  Exhibits  in  the  Forestry  Building. 

There  are  some  big  white  pine  logs  from  trees  which  would  surely 
have  furnished  10,000  feet  of  lumber.  There  are  some  Norway  pine 
logs  cut  from  trees  that  stood  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  high,  and  if  these 
be  not  "  monarchs  of  the  forest  "  they  do  not  have  them  anywhere  out- 
side of  the  Yellowstone  Valley.  All  along  the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan 
and  of  Lake  Huron  are  sawmills  that  will  turn  out  from  50,000  to 
250,000  feet  of  pine  lumber  a  day. 

But  it  is  not  only  pine  lumber  that  the  state  produces,  though,  of 
course,  that  wood  is  chief.  In  the  southern  part  of  the  state  the  maple 
and  beech  grow  in  forests.  A  little  farther  north  the  forests  are  full  of 
all  the  varieties  of  oak,  elm,  and  other  hard  woods.  In  the  southern 
part  of  the  state  the  walnut  and  butternut  grow,  and  the  sight  of  the 
shag-bark  hickories  there  would  make  a  bow-and-arrow-making  Indian 
wild  with  delight.  The  furniture  factories  of  Grand  Rapids  are  the 
largest  in  the  world,  and  a  great  part  of  the  material  used  by  them  comes 
from  the  Michigan  forests. 


WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR.  451 

In  addition  to  the  woods  themselves,  there  are  exhibited  the  methods 
of  making  lumber.  Gang  saws  are  shown  that  eat  up  six  logs  at  a 
time,  making  them  into  boards  in  less  than  a  minute.  The  cant-hooks, 
pike-poles,  skids,  and  other  tools  are  there  and  photographs  showing 
how  lumber  used  to  be  hauled  by  teams  on  the  snow  paths  of  winter. 
One  of  these  photographs  shows  a  load  of  pine  logs  containing  more 
than  30,000  feet  of  lumber.  The  modern  methods  of  lumbering  by 
steam  are  also  shown.  A  lumber  camp,  a  characteristic  American  insti- 
tution, is  also  part  of  Michigan's  exhibit. 

Among  the  universities  of  the  Northwest  the  University  of  Michigan 
has  no  equal  in  the  variety  and  quality  of  the  exhibit  at  the  World's 
Fair.  The  board  of  regents  wisely  appropriated  $5,000  to  be  devoted 
to  the  university  exhibit. 

It  was  the  aim  of  the  committee  having  the  exhibit  in  charge — con- 
sisting of  Professors  Cooley,  Greene,  Prescott  and  Steere — to  make  the 
display  thoroughly  representative  of  the  university  in  every  respect,  and 
to  this  end  arrangements  were  made  to  give  each  department  sufficient 
space  to  make  a  creditable  showing.  The  plan  of  the  exhibit  includes 
photographs  of  the  buildings,  professors  and  students  engaged  in 
routine  class-room  work,  charts  illustrative  of  the  history  and  growth  of 
the  university,  as  well  as  collections  of  books,  natural  history  specimens, 
and  practical  work  by  the  students. 

The  Literary  Exhibit. 

In  the  centre  of  the  space  are  three  circular  stands  upon  which  re- 
volving charts  are  hung,  giving  the  history,  general  information  and 
statistics  of  the  university.  Near  this  the  library  exhibit,  which 
occupies  twenty-five  square  feet,  is  placed.  It  consists  of  rare  books, 
books  treating  on  the  history  of  the  university,  university  publications, 
and  a  copy  of  every  book  which  has  ever  been  written  by  members  of 
the  faculty  since  the  university  was  organized.  The  latter  collection 
contains  more  than  a  hundred  books.  Works  of  biography  also  form 
an  interesting  portion  of  the  collection. 

Probably  the  most  elaborate  display  is  that  of  the  natural  history  and 
zoological  department  which  embraces  a  complete  fauna  of  Michigan, 
the  most  complete  ever  collected.  This  portion  of  the  exhibit  occupies 
the  east  side  of  the  second  floor  of  the  Michigan  State  Building  on  a 
floor  space  56  feet  long  by  14  feet  wide.  Of  birds  there  are  464  speci- 
mens, including  every  bird  known  to  Michigan's  fauna.  There  are 
seventy-seven  stuffed  mammals,  including  among  others  a  caribou,  five 
deer,  two  bears,  moose  and  elk.  Great  skill  has  been  used  in  arranging 


452  WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR. 

the  different  birds  and  animals,  and  an  attempt  has  been  very  success- 
fully made  in  many  cases  to  reproduce  the  exact  locality  and  surround- 
ings of  the  birds  and  animals. 

Other  Choice  Collections. 

In  some  cases  the  natural  home  of  the  animals  has  been  removed  in- 
tact. Every  one  who  has  seen  the  mountains  remarks  on  the  excellence 
of  the  work.  All  the  arts  of  the  skilled  taxidermist  have  been  made 
use  of  in  the  selection  and  arrangement  of  this  collection. 

Besides  this  collection  there  is  a  large  exhibit  of  zoological,  botanical, 
biological,  and  allied  sciences  covering  224  square  feet  of  floor  space  in 
the  Liberal  Arts  Building.  Much  of  the  matter  exhibited  in  this  col- 
lection was  obtained  by  Professor  Steere  during  his  explorations  in 
South  America  and  the  antipodes.  Among  other  things  the  collection 
of  corals  is  perhaps  the  finest  and  most  varied  ever  gotten  together.  A 
museum  map  covering  ninety-six  feet  of  wall  space  is  made  use  of  to  ex- 
plain the  exhibits. 

The  engineering  department  received  its  proper  share  of  space,  occu- 
pying as  it  does  800  square  feet  or  more  than  one-fourth  of  the  entire 
space.  Considerable  effort  has  been  made  to  get  together  a  fairly  rep- 
resentative collection  of  geometrical,  free-hand  and  water-color  drawings 
which  are  arranged  in  stands  and  tables.  In  the  civil  and  mechanical 
engineering  departments  special  pains  have  been  taken  to  furnish  a 
practical  display  of  the  class  of  work  done  in  these  departments  of  the 
university,  and  they  have  been  most  successful  in  their  attempt.  The 
exhibit  consists  of  a  number  of  machines  and  tools  made  by  the  students 
in  the  engineering  laboratories,  and  includes  a  drill,  a  lathe,  and  the 
necessary  appliances  thereto.  Foundry  and  mechanical  work  are  also 
shown. 

Indiana. 

The  Indiana  Building  is  in  the  French  Gothic  style  of  architecture, 
such  as  is  seen  in  the  chateaux  in  France.  It  has  two  imposing  towers, 
126  feet  high,  and  many  Gothic  gables.  The  building  has  three  stories, 
built  of  pine  and  Bedford  stone,  and  is  covered  with  ornamental  "  staff." 
The  roof  is  of  gray  and  red  shingle.  The  floors  are  of  tile.  The  main 
assembly  hall  on  the  first  floor  is  elaborately  finished  in  the  baronial 
style.  All  of  the  material  used  in  the  building  comes  from  Indiana, 
much  of  the  hard  woods  for  interior  decorations,  tile  floors,  the  roofing 
material,  and  the  mantels  being  donated  by  Indiana  manufacturers. 
The  ground  area  is  100  by  150  feet. 


WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR. 


453 


The  main  entrance  opens  into  a  wide  hall  extending  across  the  build- 
ing. To  the  right  of  the  hall  is  a  large  assembly-room,  occupying  the 
entire  south  end  of  the  building.  The  north  end  of  the  building  is  de- 
voted to  parlors  and  reception  rooms  for  men  and  women.  The  second 
floor  has  reading  and  writing  rooms,  and  rooms  for  the  men  and  women 
boards  of  state  commissioners.  The  third  floor  is  devoted  to  bed-rooms 
and  a  hall  for  dining  and  lunching.  There  are  immense  fireplaces  in 
the  entrance  hall  and  assembly-room. 


INDIANA    STATE    BUILDING. 

A  fine  statue  adorns  the  Indiana  Building  which  is  the  work  of  Miss 
Janet  Scudder,  of  Terre  Haute,  and  is  in  plaster.  The  pose  of  the  figure 
is  striking.  The  drapery  is  more  Grecian  than  anything  else,  although 
there  is  no  striving  in  it  for  dramatic  effect.  The  attitude  of  the  head 
and  face  suggests  a  modest  maiden.  Miss  Scudder  had  no  one  in  view 
in  her  work.  It  is  simply  her  ideal.  She  did  not  even  think  to  name 
it.  The  Maid  of  the  Wabash  has  been  suggested,  but  inasmuch  as  that 
tends  to  rob  Senator  Voorhees  of  some  of  his  glory,  an  objection  was 
made.  The  money  to  pay  for  this  work  was  raised  by  the  people 
of  Terre  Haute,  the  children  of  the  city  taking  special  part  in  the  col- 
lection. 

Missouri. 

The  ground  plan  of  the  Missouri  Building  is  square,  with  a  quarter 


454  WESTERN   STATES  AT  THE  FAIR. 

circle  taken  out  of  the  southeast  corner,  to  correspond  with  the  form  of 
the  juncture  of  the  two  avenues  on  which  it  faces. 

To  the  south  of  the  building  is  the  Palace  of  Fine  Arts,  and  to  the 
east,  across  the  avenue, -is  Pennsylvania  Building.  The  building  is  86 
by  86  feet,  two  stories  high.  In  the  front,  and  over  the  main  entrance, 
is  an  elliptical  dome,  70  feet  high,  flanked  by  smaller  octagonal  domes, 
48  feet  high.  The  main  entrance,  which  is  in  the  southeast  corner  of: 
the  building,  facing  both  avenues,  is  of  cut  brown  stone  from  the  quar- 
ries of  Warrensburg,  Mo.  The  balance  of  the  structure  is  frame, 
covered  with  "  staff,"  and  the  columns  and  pilasters  are  of  the  same 
material. 

From  the  Fields  and  Prairies. 

Missouri  has  a  larger  space  than  that  of  any  other  state  in  the  agri- 
cultural department.  The  spot  where  the  Missouri  farmers  show  what 
they  can  do  toward  making  the  Exposition  complete  measures  sixty 
feet  each  way,  a  total  of  3,600  square  feet.  The  space  is  invaded  by 
the  south  stairway  leading  to  the  east  gallery.  This  difficulty  has  been 
overcome  by  building  an  extension  to  the  staircase  as  high  as  the  first 
landing.  The  extension  has  been  turned  into  a  corn  palace,  which  is 
decorated  outside  and  inside  with  vari-colored  corn.  The  facade  of  the 
palace  is  decorated  to  represent  the  portcullis  of  a  mediaeval  castle,  with 
flanking  towers  on  either  end  of  the  structure.  In  it  are  devices  and 
statistics  illustrating  the  development  of  the  corn  industry  in  Missouri. 

There  are  134  varieties  of  wheat  and  100  of  grasses  in  the  exhibit. 
The  balusters,  railings,  and  ceilings  of  the  galleries  are  covered  with 
handsome  designs  made  of  various  Missouri  agricultural  products.  In 
this  manner  sorghum,  broom  corn,  flax,  cotton,  castor  beans,  hemp,  etc., 
are  used  to  fine  advantage. 

Rare  Mineral  Exhibit. 

Under  the  direction  of  E.  O.  Hovey,  Ph.  D.,  of  St.  Louis,  the  Mis- 
souri mineral  exhibit  appears  to  excellent  advantage.  The  space,  49  by 
45  feet,  is  inclosed  with  a  handsomely  decorated  wall  12  feet  in  height 
and  composed  of  terra  cotta  and  Roman  brick  on  a  foundation  of  Syenite 
granite  from  Graniteville,  Iron  County.  Heavy  limestone  steps  from 
the  Hannibal  quarries  are  placed  at  each  of  the  quarries. 

Zinc  and  lead  being  the  most  important  mineral  products  of  the  state, 
specimens  of  these  ores, are  given  the  most  prominence.  In  upright 
cases  extending  entirely  around  the  room  are  smaller  specimens  of  ore 
from  all  parts  of  the  state.  At  the  southeast  corner  of  the  room  ?s 


WESTERN   STATES-  AT   THE    FAIR.  455 

placed  the  iron  ore  exhibit  from  the  Iron  Mountains  and  Pilot  Knob. 
The  coal  exhibit  from  the  northwest  section  of  the  state  is  represented 
by  a  solid  block  of  soft  coal  eighteen  inches  thick  and  about  six  feet 
square. 

At  the  southeast  corner  of  the  room  is  a  handsome  Masonic  altar 
built  of  marble  from  the  Greenfield  quarries.  At  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  room  is  a  model  of  the  St.  Joe  Company's  Concentrating  Works 
at  Bonne  Terre.  One  very  interesting  specimen  to  mineralogists  is  that 


MISSOURI    STATE   BUILDING. 


of  millerite  or  nickel  sulphide  from  St.  Louis  County.  There  are  also 
many  specimens  of  clay  products  and  glass  sand  from  a  deposit  near 
St.  Louis. 

Border  State  Floral  Display. 

In  the  Horticultural  Building  the  display  made  by  Missouri  is  a  cred- 
itable exhibit  of  the  resources  of  the  state  in  that  direction.  A  space 
of  28  by  45  feet  was  awarded  and  located  in  the  northeastern  corner  of 
the  building. 

The  pomological  exhibit  has  as  features  1,000  Egyptian  glass  cans  of 
assorted  sizes  filled  with  the  fruits  of  the  state  preserved  in  antiseptic 
fluids.  There  are  also  vegetables  in  mammoth  glass  jars  and  preserved 
by  the  same  process.  The  green  fruits  consist  of  141  barrels  of  apples. 
Consignments  of  fresh  fruit  were  received  daily  as  soon  as  the  Fair  was 
opened,  beginning  with  the  famous  strawberries  that  are  grown  in 


456  WESTERN   STATES   AT  THE   FAIR. 

Southern  Missouri  and  continuing  until  the  end  of  the  Fair  with  sea- 
sonable fruits. 

Missouri  men  are  confident  of  winning  honors  in  the  line  of  an  exhibit 
of  peaches.  The  growing  of  this  class  of  fruit  is  not  an  old  industry 
in  the  state,  and  it  is  only  recently  that  the  raising  of  peaches  has  as- 
sumed important  proportions  in  the  commercial  enterprise  of  the  state. 
Now  they  claim  that  the  finest  peach  orchard  in  the  world  is  the  Olden 
Fruit  Farm  of  Howell  County,  which  in  1892  yielded  a  sufficient  profit 
to  repay  the  company  for  its  original  investment. 

The  border  state  is  fortunate  in  having  had  for  years  the  greatest 
botanical  garden  in  America,  established  by  Henry  Shaw,  a  wealthy 
and  philanthropical  Englishman,  who  died  recently  and  left  his  beauti- 
ful botanical  garden  as  a  bequest  to  the  City  of  St.  Louis.  From  Shaw's 
garden  two  carloads  of  rare  plants  were  sent  to  the  Fair.  Among  these 
is  a  palm  that  is  the  largest  ever  exhibited  in  this  country.  It  is  forty- 
five  feet  high  and  of  the  species  Cocos  Romanzofifiana.  There  is  also  a 
collection  of  2,000  of  the  native  flowers  of  the  state,  making,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  display  from  Shaw's  garden,  one  of  the  most  complete  and 
interesting  floral  exhibits  ever  shown. 

Missouri's  Fish  Exhibit. 

In  the  Fisheries  Building  Executive  Commissioner  J.  K.  Gwynn  has 
a  fine  exhibit  of  Missouri's  fishing  interests.  In  two  large  cases  there 
are  120  specimens,  representing  sixty  specimens  of  fish  found  within 
the  state.  These  include  all  the  species  of  game  fish,  as  well  as  some 
fine  specimens  of  the  much  despised  but  very  edible  Missouri  catfish. 
One  of  these,  taken  from  the  Missouri  River  near  Lexington,  weighed 
122  pounds  when  caught.  There  are  fine  specimens  of  mountain  trout 
from  the  mountain  streams  of  the  Ozark  County,  and  small-mouth  black 
bass  from  the  Black  River  and  tributary  streams  in  the  southeast  part 
of  the  state. 

There  are  specimens  of  pickerel  from  streams  and  lakes  in  nearly 
every  part  of  the  state.  There  are  also  some  fine  specimens  of  German 
carp,  a  fish  that  has  been  cultivated  to  considerable  extent. 

Kansas. 

The  ground  plan  of  the  Kansas  Building  is  irregular.  It  approaches 
a  square,  one  side  being  straight  and  the  other  three  forming  irregular 
angles.  It  has  a  ground  area  of  135  by  138  feet.  It  is  two  stories  high, 
built  of  frame  and  staff,  and  is  surmounted  by  an  elliptical  glass  dome. 


457 


458  WESTERN   STATES   AT    THE   FAIR. 

The  main  exhibition  hall  occupies  nearly  all  of  the  first  floor,  and 
extends  through  to  the  glass  dome.  A  balcony  from  the  second  story 
overhangs  the  main  entrance  on  the  south,  and  a  second  balcony 
extends  around  the  base  of  the  dome.  The  north  end  of  the  main  floor 
is  occupied  by  a  natural  history  collection.  There  are  also  offices  for 
the  boards  of  commissioners  on  the  first  floor.  Four  flights  of  stairs 
lead  to  the  second  floor,  where  are  rooms  for  the  woman's  exhibit,  a 
school  exhibit,  and  parlors  for  men  and  women. 

The  north  wing  of  the  Kansas  Building  is  60  by  80  feet,  with  iQ-foot 
walls.  The  light  comes  from  a  sloping  roof  of  glass,  while  the  front 
opens  out  into  the  main  hall  of  the  building.  In  this  wing  is  placed  one 
of  the  most  artistic  exhibits  of  the  Exposition.  Professor  Dyche  is  not 
satisfied  with  showing  a  lot  of  "  stuffed  "  animals,  but  outlined  a  plan  by 
which  he  at  the  same  time  gives  an  instructive  and  pleasing  history  of 
the  animals  in  an  object  lesson.  To  describe  in  detail  the  plan  it  must 
be  understood  that  the  hundreds  of  animals  are  in  groups,  each  group 
showing  an  actual  scene  taken  from  life  by  the  professor  as  he  saw  it 
while  on  one  of  his  many  hunting  expeditions. 

A  Group  of  Moose. 

Beginning  at  the  extreme  southwest  corner  of  the  wing  the  visitor 
finds  one  of  the  grandest  groups  in  the  whole  collection.  This  is  a 
group  of  seven  moose.  The  herd  is  headed  by  an  enormous  bull,  who 
stands  ten  feet  from  the  ground  to  the  tip  of  his  immense  branching 
antlers.  The  leader  of  the  herd  stands  on  a  slight  eminence  in  a  swamp 
and  is  looking  off  after  some  possible  danger  to  his  family.  Near  the 
bull  is  an  old  cow  with  twin  calves.  The  cow  is  riding  down  a  tree  in 
order  to  give  her  calves  a  chance  to  browse  off  the  leaves.  Back  of  the 
cow  are  two  two-year  old  moose  browsing  from  a  tree,  while  a  three-year 
old  bull  is  approaching  from  the  opposite  direction.  The  whole  scene 
is  set  in  a  swamp  true  to  nature,  and  made  with  logs  and  dead  trees 
brought  directly  from  the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  where  the  animals  were 
killed. 

From  the  group  of  mule  deer  the  ground  rapidly  rises  until  it  goes  to 
a  craggy  peak  of  mountains.  On  this  is  a  group  of  the  most  remarkable 
animals  of  the  North  American  continent.  The  Rocky  Mountain  goat 
is  here  seen  in  his  home.  The  peak  is  surmounted  by  an  old  shaggy 
"  Billie,"  who  stands  guard  on  the  top  of  the  rocks  while  his  family  of 
six  ewes  and  younger  bucks  are  scattered  in  various  positions  over  the 
crags.  The  scene  is  most  life-like,  and  gives  a  better  idea  of  the  habits 


WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE   I- AIR.  459 

of  the  mysterious  animals  than  any  work  on  natural  history  that  has 
ever  been  written. 

Ferocious  Grizzly  Bears. 

Between  this  high  crag  and  another  of  similar  nature  to  the  south,  is  a 
valley  through  which  runs  a  stream  of  water  that  finds  an  outlet  in  a 
sink-hole  near  the  center  of  the  wing.  Up  this  valley,  or  canon,  two 
bears,  immense  grizzlies,  are  seen  as  if  ready  to  devour  any  one  who  has 
sufficient  temerity  to  venture  in  their  domain.  There  is  not  much  to  a 
grizzly  to  make  an  exhibit  out  of,  but  these  two  bears  are  such  ferocious 
looking  brutes  that  they  attract  attention  at  all  times. 

On  the  promontory  of  rock  before  spoken  of,  to  the  east  of  the  canon 
where  the  bears  find  their  home,  is  a  group  of  Rocky  Mountain  sheep. 
These  are  the  famous  big  horn  which  the  early  travelers  of  the  West 
wrote  so  much  about.  This  group  of  ten  animals  represents  one  of  the 
finest  collections  in  the  whole  world.  The  band  is  headed  by  an  old 
ram  that  is  a  veritable  monster  in  size,  and  is  perfect  in  color  and  shape. 
This  leader  stands  in  plain  view  on  the  topmost  crag  and  overlooks 
space,  ever  on  guard  against  danger.  Below  him,  in  various  attitudes, 
are  seen  the  others  of  the  band,  and  they  are  found  depicting  the  true 
positions  of  the  animals  as  they  were  seen  by  the  Professor  in  the  Cas- 
cade Mountains,  where  he  brought  down  numbers  of  them. 

Mountain  Lions. 

Under  the  ledge  of  rocks  at  the  bottom  of  the  craggy  mountain  on 
which  are  the  sheep,  is  a  mountain  lioness  and  her  three  very  young 
cubs.  The  little  animals  which  are  no  larger  than  half-grown  kittens, 
are  playing  about  their  mother,  while  the  old  one  looks  as  contented  as 
an  old  cat  that  has  been  fed  on  a  good  pan  of  milk. 

Just  below  the  lioness  and  her  young  is  seen  a  group  of  Virginia  deer, 
five  in  number,  which  is  feeding  on  the  slope  of  the  mountain.  This' 
group,  like  all  others  of  the  deer  kind,  is  headed  by  a  lordly  buck,  which 
seems  to  feel  his  superiority  over  all  other  animals. 

Coming  around  on  the  eastern  end  of  the  wing  the  visitor  finds  him- 
self in  front  of  one  of  the  finest  groups  of  animals  in  the  whole  collec- 
tion, from  an  artistic  point  of  view.  This  is  a  group  of  six  elk.  The 
group  is  headed  by  a  bull  that  is  said  to  be  the  finest  ever  taken  from 
the  mountains  for  the  purpose  of  mounting.  He  stands  ten  feet  and 
nine  inches  from  the  point  of  his  toe  to  the  tip  of  his  antlers,  and  is. not 
only  the  monarch  of  the  Rockies,  but  a  veritable  World's  Fair  king. 


460  WESTERN   STATES   AT  THE   FAIR. 

He  leads  a  band  that  presents  a  picture  of  still  life  most  wonderfully 
conceived  and  executed. 

Here  the  ground  slopes  off  toward  a  bit  of  prairie  land,  and  a  group 
of  antelope,  six  in  all,  stand  or  lie  in  a  spot,  shewing  the  peculiar 
characteristics  of  this  most  beautiful  of  the  deer  kind.  Crouched  in  the 
bunch  grass  near  the  antelope  are  two  jack  rabbits,  one  squatting  close 
to  the  ground,  the  other  erect  and  alert,  watching  for  its  natural 
enemies. 

The  American  Bison. 

The  last  group  along  the  wall  is  on  the  extreme  southeast,  and  is  one 
that  never  fails  to  attract  attention.  It  is  a  group  of  buffalo,  or  the 
American  bison.  An  immense  bull,  the  largest  ever  mounted,  not  ex- 
cepting the  famous  bull  in  the  American  Museum,  and  that  other  in  the 
National  Museum,  is  the  leader  of  this  herd  of  five,  and  right  royally 
does  he  carry  off  the  palm  of  being  the  finest  specimen  ever  shown  any- 
where in  the  world.  The  group  is  one  of  the  most  natural  of  the 
entire  exhibit. 

The  visitor  has  now  gone  from  the  swamp  land  of  the  Minnesota 
around  by  the  mountains  of  British  Columbia  and  Colorado  to  the 
prairie  land  of  Western  Kansas  and  Texas,  and  as  he  turns  from  the 
walls  which  he  has  been  following  he  sees  the  prairie  spreading  out 
towards  the  center  of  the  wing.  Here  he  first  sees  a  trio  of  immense 
buffalo  wolves  tearing  at  the  decaying  carcass  of  a  buffalo.  The  wolves 
are  true  to  life  and  are  gnawing  at  the  carcass  of  a  buffalo  that  was 
found  in  the  famous  Pan  Handle  of  Texas.  This  group  is  one  of  the 
interesting  bits  and  for  scientific  accuracy  is  perfect.  The  expression 
on  the  faces  of  the  wolves  is  such  that  it  brings  a  shudder  to  the 
observer  who  fully  realizes  that  the  terrible  tales  told  of  the  ravages  of 
these  savage  animals  have  never  been  overdrawn. 

Sitting  and  standing  near  the  snarling  wolves  is  a  group  of  coyotes, 
eight  of  the  little  wolves  being  congregated  in  a  bunch.  This  group  is 
enlivened  by  a  spirited  contest  between  three  young  coyotes  who  are 
struggling  over  the  carcass  of  a  jack  rabbit.  One  triumphantly  runs  off 
with  the  tail  while  the  other  two  tear  the  body  apart. 

A  Hard  Battle. 

This  sketch  does  not  go  into  the  detail  of  the  work  that  has  been 
expanded  to  make  this  one  of  the  most  artistic  and  scientific  exhibits  on 
the  ground.  A  day  would  be  well  spent  here  in  the  study  of  the 
animals  and  their  habits.  There  is  a  group  which  is  not  in  this  exhibit, 


WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR.  461 

but  which  attracts  more  attention  than  any  other  group  in  the  building. 
It  is  a  pair  of  fighting  bull  moose.  These  immense  animals  are 
struggling  hard  for  supremacy,  and  the  details  of  the  work  done  on  the 
group  make  it  a  masterpiece.  This  group  is  so  large  that  it  could  not 
be  placed  in  the  wing  with  the  other  animals,  for  it  would  hide  too  much 
of  the  exhibit;  so  it  is  placed  separate,  and  stands  out  in  the  main 
building  where  it  can  be  viewed  from  all  sides. 

The  old  horse  of  the  Seventh  United  States  Cavalry  is  among  the 
stuffed  animals  in  the  Kansas  Building.  The  noble  beast  carried  a 
trooper  to  his  death  on  the  Little  Big  Horn  when  Custer  fell,  and  was 
the  only  horse  of  the  command  to  escape  that  fearful  slaughter.  Several 
days  after  the  massacre  Corhanche  was  found  roaming  over  the 
country  with  his  flanks  still  stained  with  the  blood  of  the  soldiers.  The 
horse  was  taken  to  Fort  Riley,  Kan.,  where  the  Seventh  is  stationed, 
and  for  fifteen  vears  received  the  attention  and  caresses  of  a  child. 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 
Western  States  at  the  Fair. — (Continued?) 

Iowa. 

A  LARGE  part  of  the  Iowa  Building  is  constituted  in  what  is 
known  as  the  Jackson  Park  "Shelter."    The  building  belongs 
to  the  Park  Commission.    It  is  a  granite  structure  with  a  slate 
roof,  with  conical  towers  of  pavilions  at  the  corners.     It  is 
77  by  123  feet  in  size.     The  new  structure  is  west  of  the  "Shelter.     It 
is  60  by  100  feet  in  size,  and   two  stories  high.     It  is  in  wood  and 
"staff,"  with  towers  and  roof  corresponding  to  the  "Shelter/'  so  that 
the  two  structures  combine  harmoniously  after  the  style  of  a  French 
chateau,  the   "  Shelter "    used   for   a   State   exhibit,    corresponding   in 
character  to  the  Sioux  City  corn  palace  exhibition.     In  the  new  part, 
on  the  first  floor,  are  reception-rooms  for  men  and  women,  commis- 
sioners'  offices,   committee    rooms,   post-offices,  writing   and   baggage 
rooms.      On   the   second   floor   are   the   assembly   hall,   photographic 
exhibit,  reading  and  reporters'  rooms. 

The  World's  Fair  is  like  a  huge  scroll  upon  which  the  earth's  pro- 
gress is  written  in  various  scripts.  Some  quarters  of  the  globe  have 
made  their  writing  in  Sanscrit,  others  in  illuminated  texts,  others  in 
delicate  Italian  traceries,  but  Iowa  has  made  its  mark  in  a  bold,  round 
hand  indicative  of  sturdy  young  manhood,  and  what  is  said  may  easily 
be  read  by  all  comers. 

The  capital  letters  in  Iowa's  scroll  say  "  Corn  Is  King,"  and  agricul- 
ture, horticulture,  mining,  and  educational  institutions,  all  help  to  make 
the  sentence  complete.  Particularly  in  the  agricultural  and  mining 
departments  the  Hawkeye  exhibits  command  attention.  In  the  state, 
which  is  generally  thought  to  be  wholly  agricultural,  there  is  an 
estimated  coal  field  of  17,000  square  miles  in  working  which  18,000 
men  are  employed. 

Beautiful  Corn  Palace. 

Iowa's  appropriation  was  $130,000.     This  was  spent  with  great  dis- 
crimination.    The  feature  of  the  building  is  in  the  first  floor,  and  is 
called  Exhibit  Hall.     It  is  the  Old  Jackson  Park  pavilion  converted  into 
462 


WESTERN    STATES   AT   THE   FAIR. 


4G3 


one  immense  room  78  by  125  feet  in  dimensions.  This  room,  which  is 
entered  from  the  main  hall  through  a  spacious  portal,  should  be  called 
"  Corn  Hall."  Its  decorations  show  this  Hawkeye  staple  in  every  con- 
ceivable design  and  angle.  In  the  hall  on  the  left  is  a  quaint  fireplace, 
on  the  tiles  of  which  is  countersunk  the  motto  : 

"  Iowa — The  affections  of  her  people,  like  the  rivers  of  her  borders, 
flow  to  an  inseparable  union."  No  idea  can  be  formed  of  the  bewilder- 
ing appearance  of  the  hall  unless  the  imagination  has  been  helped  by 
former  views  of  Iowa's  celebrated  corn  palaces.  The  decorations  are 


IOWA    STATE    BUILDING. 

similar  in  character,  although  new  in  details.  Colors  are  blended  and 
contrasted  with  each  other  as  the  case  may  be  in  intricate  scrolls,  and 
graceful  festoons,  and  the  most  remarkable  thing  about  it  is  that  every- 
thing is  a  natural  product  of  Iowa's  soil.  The  hall  cost  $12,000  to 
decorate,  and  700  pounds  of  tacks  were  used  in  nailing  on  the  material. 
No  wood  shows  in  the  interior  of  Exhibit  Hall. 

In  the  centre  of  the  hall  is  a  reproduction  of  the  State  Capitol  23  by 
13  feet  and  21  feet  high.  This  is  an  actual  model  and  is  built  of  glass. 
It  contains  grain  and  seed  so  put  into  the  glass  as  to  blend  in  color. 
At  the  east  end  of  the  hall  is  a  heroic  group  of  statuary  representing 
Iowa.  Between  the  pillars  in  the  hall  are  stands  built  in  the  form  of  a 
shock  of  grain.  Each  of  the  stands  is  covered  with  a  different  grain  or 
mineral  worked  in  unique  designs,  so  that  all  the  state's  industries  are 
adequately  shown. 

Anyone  who  believes  Iowa  not  to  be  rich  in  minerals  has  only  to 
view  the  exhibit  by  that  state  in  the  Mines  and  Mining  Building  to 


464  WESTERN  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR. 

change  his  opinion.  A  great  store  is  set  by  the  exhibit  of  Trenton  rock 
and  lead,  which  took  the  first  medal  at  New  Orleans.  On  the  left  is  a 
reproduction  of  the  Ottumwa  mineral  palace  set  upon  a  pedestal  of  coal. 
The  pedestal  is  divided  into  squares,  and  each  square  contains  the  name 
of  a  mineral  county  in  letters  of  gold.  In  this  division  there  is  also  a 
model  of  an  exterior  coal  mining  scene.  This  is  built  of  black  walnut 
lumber  and  was  contributed  by  the  ladies  of  Centreville,  who  were  pa- 
triotic enough  to  have  engraved  upon  the  model  "  Iowa "  instead  of 
Centreville.  A  solid  block  of  coal  weighing  5,000  pounds  is  set  up  in 
this  section,  upon  which  is  printed  in  gold  the  Iowa  mineral  statistics. 
The  ladies  of  Dubuque  built  a  grotto  out  of  stalactites  and  spar,  which 
is  erected  at  the  extreme  left  of  the  Hawkeye  space.  This  grotto  is 
also  arranged  by  means  of  looking  glasses  to  appear  deeper  than  its 
actual  size  warrants,  and  it  is  a  beautiful  creation  from  a  decoration 
standpoint.  It  is  fitted  up  with  electric  lights  and  forms  one  of  the  fea- 
tures of  the  exhibit.  The  different  clays,  glass,  sands,  and  kaolins  are 
shown  in  glass  jars.  A  special  exhibit  of  vitrified  brick  is  made. 

Iowa's  horticultural  exhibit  is  confined  strictly  to  the  canned  goods 
department  and  to  the  section  of  pomology.  In  the  southwest  section 
of  the  state  there  has  recently  developed  a  large  industry  in  apple  grow- 
ing and  berry  cultivation.  That  section  has  held  the  markets  for  some 
years  in  the  apple  trade,  but  has  not  extended  its  products  in  other 
fields  because  of  the  limited  capacity  of  the  orchards.  This  section  of 
the  state  makes  a  specialty  of  growing  "  rosy-cheeked  "  varieties. 

From  Iowa's  Schools. 

In  the  other  departments  Iowa  is  represented  by  individual  exhibitors. 
The  woman's  building  contains  many  specimens  of  the  woman's  work 
of  the  state,  but  the  majority  of  that  class  of  exhibits  is  made  in  the 
State  building.  The  fine  arts  display  is  in  the  State  building.  This 
collection  contains  some  fine  and  large  works.  Noticeable  among  the 
latter  are  pictures  of  the  cities  of  Dubuque  and  Fort  Madison.  Profes- 
sor Putnam's  department  of  ethnology  and  anthropology  received  the 
exhibit  of  the  Iowa  historical  and  archaeological  societies. 

Educational  systems  in  operation  in  the  State  of  Iowa  are  thoroughly 
illustrated  in  the  department  of  liberal  arts.  The  exhibit  occupies  2,000 
square  feet  in  the  south  gallery  of  the  Manufactures  Building,  which  has 
been  devoted  to  the  liberal  arts  department.  J.  W.  Jarnagin,  of  Montezuma, 
has  this  portion  of  the  display  in  charge.  He  has  collected  a  thorough  set 
of  maps,  drawings,  relief  maps,  photographs,  and  statistics  of  Iowa  schools, 
and  arranged  them  in  the  space  in  an  attractive  and  comprehensive  manner. 


WESTERN   STATES  AT   THE   FAIR. 


465 


Three  hundred  feet  have  been  assigned  to  the  State  Normal  School  at 
Cedar  Falls.  Besides  showing  by  a  series  of  comparative  maps  the 
school's  progress  there  is  a  large  display  of  the  methods  of  teaching  em- 
bryo teachers  how  to  make  the  apparatus  that  is  used  in  teaching  in  the 
lower  grades.  To  enable  the  teachers  to  provide  themselves  with  the 
desired  apparatus  the  Normal  School  introduced  a  system  of  manual 
training  by  which  teachers  are  taught  to  manufacture  their  paraphernalia. 
This  is  an  innovation  in  normal  school  instruction,  and  has  been  found 


NEBRASKA   STATE   BUILDING. 


The  exhibit  on 


of  great  value  in  fitting  teachers  for  western  schools, 
this  line  is  extensive  and  worthy  of  consideration. 

Nebraska. 

The  building  erected  by  the  State  of  Nebraska  is  in  a  fine  position, 
just  within  the  Fifty-seventh  street  entrance  to  the  park,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  boulevard.  The  style  of  architecture  is  classical,  and  of  the 
Corinthian  order.  The  building  has  a  ground  area  of  60  by  100  feet, 
and  is  two-stories  high.  The  exterior  is  of  "staff."  On  the  east  and 
west  fronts  are  wide  porticoes  approached  by  flight  of  steps  ;  over  the 
porticoes  are  projecting  gables,  supported  by  six  columns  twenty-five  feet 
high,  the  full  distance  from  the  cornice  to  the  floor.  In  each  pediment 
is  the  state  seal,  in  bas-relief,  five  feet  in  diameter.  From  each  portico 
three  large  double  doors  of  oak  give  entrance  to  the  Exhibit  Hall.  This 
room  is  60  by  70  feet,  and  in  it  an  agricultural  display  is  made.  On  the 
30 


466  WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR. 

first  floor,  also  are  a  reception  room,  commissioners'  office,  baggage 
room  and  postoffice.  A  double  stairway,  nine  feet  wide,  leads  from  the 
center  of  the  Exhibit  Hall  to  the  second  floor.  Here  is  an  exhibit  room 
60  by  70  feet,  used  for  an  art  exhibit.  On  this  floor  are  a  woman's  parlor, 
reading-room,  smoking-room  and  toilet-rooms. 

Nebraska,  like  the  other  States,  shows  her  characteristic  products,  and 
the  display,  both  by  its  fine  arrangement  and  its  choice  quality,  is  worthy 
of  the  great  commonwealth  it  represents.  As  the  chief  products  are 
those  of  the  farm  great  attention  was  devoted  to  displaying  these  and  the 
State  produces  nothing  of  any  account  that  is  not  found  in  her  varied 
exhibit  at  the  Exposition. 

"Wisconsin. 

One  of  the  most  striking  examples  of  the  variety  of  Wisconsin's  pro- 
ducts is  found  in  the  building  which  is  the  official  rendezvous  of  the  Badger 
State  visitors  to  the  Fair.  From  turret  to  foundation  stone  the  structure 
is  composed  of  material  native  to  the  state.  This  is  all  the  more  remark- 
able when  the  different  materials  of  which  the  building  is  constructed  are 
considered.  The  exterior  is  of  Ashland  brown  stone,  Menominee  pressed 
brick  and  hard  woods ;  the  roof  is  covered  with  dimension  shingles,  and 
the  windows  arc  of  plate  glass,  all  of  which  are  Wisconsin  productions. 

In  architecture  the  Wisconsin  Building  presents  a  cheerful  appearance 
resembling  thousands  df  the  homes  common  in  the  prosperous  towns  of 
the  state.  Throughout  the  interior  the  walls  and  ceilings  are  finished 
in  oiled  hard  woods.  The  first  floor  is  an  elaborate  exponent  of  the 
wainscoting  art.  On  this  floor  is  the  reception  room  or  lobby,  which 
extends  the  entire  width  of  the  building.  This  room  is  paved  with  Wis- 
consin tile  of  many  different  forms  and  colors  and  worked  into  fanciful 
designs.  The  walls  and  ceilings  are  done  in  polished  oak  and  the  room 
is  divided  by  interlaced  arches  of  arabesque  design,  into  three  apart- 
ments. These  arches  are  done  in  oak  and  contain  the  state  coat-of- 
arms  carved  by  a  Wisconsin  woman. 

A  Two  Thousand   Dollar  Window. 

Access  to  the  second  floor  is  gained  by  the  grand  staircase  of  highly- 
polished,  hand-carved  white  oak  which  faces  the  main  entrance.  Mid- 
way of  staircase  on  the  first  broad  landing  the  light  streams  in  through 
the  handsome  window  of  Venitian  glass  which  illustrates  the  city  of 
Superior.  This  window  was  designed  by  a  Wisconsin  artist,  and  is  the 
contribution  of  the  citizens  of  Douglas  County.  It  cost  $2,000.  At  the 
head  of  the  stairway  the  doors  opening  on  the  balcony  also  contain  stain- 
glass  panels,  the  design  being  the  Wisconsin  coat-of-arms. 


467 


468 


WESTERN   STATES   AT  THE   FAIR. 


According  to  the  original  plans  of  the  State  Commission,  Wisconsin 
has  collective  exhibits  in  the  horticultural,  agricultural,  mining,  ethno- 
logical, fisheries,  and  liberal  arts  departments.  In  many  of  these  divi- 
sions the  Wisconsin  exhibit  is  on  an  elaborate  scale,  and  in  the  Agri- 
cultural, Mining,  and  Horticultural  Buildings  its  pavilions  are  quite  re- 
markable. 

Indeed  the  revelation  made  by  the  farmers  and  woodmen  in  the  Agri- 
cultural and  Forestry  Buildings  causes  many  of  the  natives  to  wonder  at 
the  vast  resources  of  their  state.  The  1,061  exhibitors  in  the  agricultural 
section  occupy  3,500  square  feet  on  the  main  floor.  They  have  prepared 
a  novel  pavilion  for  their  display,  and  the  samples  sent  of  Wisconsin's 
cereal  products  have  all  taken  prizes  at  state  agricultural  shows.  The 
pavilion  is  mainly  built  of  oak,  and  around  the  sides  contains  panels  of 


WISCONSIN    MINERAL    EXHIBIT. 

glass  in  which  are  arranged  different  colored  cereals  in  beautiful  designs. 
The  uprights  that  support  the  roof  of  the  structure  are  decorated  in  the 
same  manner.  Exhibits  are  shown  in  trays,  which  are  set  in  tiers  around 
the  sides  of  the  pavilion. 

Products   of  the   Soil. 

In  the  center  of  the  inclosure  is  a  large  table  upon  which  is  shown 
photographs  of  model  farm  buildings  and  rural  scenes.  Willis  L.  Moore 
of  Milwaukee,  chief  of  the  Wisconsin  weather  service,  has  prepared  a 
series  of  photographs  illustrating  his  observations  in  the  different  sec- 
tions of  the  state.  He  will  show  the  climatic  changes  that  the  state  is 
subject  to  by  a  series  of  colored  maps.  The  entire  exhibit,  however,  is 
intended  to  demonstrate  in  one  way  or  another  Wisconsin's  agricultural 


WESTERN   STATES  AT  THE  FAIR.  469 

possibilities.  It  has  been  collected  with  great  care  and  includes  wheat, 
corn,  oats,  pop-corn,  barley,  rye,  buck-wheat,  flax,  and  a  score  of  other 
grains.  Professor  L.  S.  Cheney,  of  Madison,  collected  an  exhibit  of 
forage  plants  grown  exclusively  in  Wisconsin,  which  he  sends  to  the 
Fair.  This  collection  includes  260  varieties  of  grasses  and  is  one  of  the 
most  complete  of  its  kind  ever  made.  Besides  these  products  there  are 
exhibits  of  beans,  peas,  clover  seeds,  millet  seed,  rape  seed  and  lentils. 

In  the  Forestry  Building  Wisconsin  has  a  magnificent  display.  The 
space  is  interestingly  filled  with  a  complete  exhibit  in  which  every  tree 
found  in  the  state  is  shown.  Wisconsin's  display  within  the  building  de- 
voted to  Mines  and  Mining  fairly  illustrates  the  immense  mineral  wealth 
possessed  by  the  state.  An  ornate  pavilion  was  built  for  this  display. 
Inside  this  pavilion,  arranged  in  pyramids  and  other  forms,  the  various 
minerals  are  shown.  These  include  granite,  marble,  brick,  tile,  terra- 
cotta, lead,  zinc,  copper,  and  iron,  brown  hematite  ochre,  iron  pyrites, 
and  sand  used  in  the  manufacture  of  glass.  Many  counties  make  ex- 
hibits, and  each  of  the  celebrated  mineral  fields  of  the  state  is  fully  repre- 
sented. 

Some  Fresh  Water  Pearls. 

A  collection  of  pearls  taken  from  oysters  found  in  certain  streams  of 
the  state  is  als  shown  in  this  department.  These  pearls  have  been  repeat- 
edly examined  and  are  pronounced  by  experts  equal  to  those  of  the 
ocean  fisheries. 

In  connection  with  this  department,  although  it  is  placed  in  the  Mines 
Building,  is  the  largest  single  stone  ever  quarried.  This  is  known  as 
the  Wisconsin  monolith.  It  is  115  feet  high,  ten  feet  square  at  the 
base,  and  four  feet  square  at  the  apex.  This  monster  was  presented  by 
Frederick  Prentice,  of  Houghton.  It  is  of  Wisconsin  granite,  and  after 
two  unsuccessful  attempts  was  finally  hewn  off  the  strata.  In  size,  this 
column  exceeds  that  of  the  famous  Cleopatra's  needle.  The  tallest 
obelisk  in  Egypt  was  only  105  feet  in  length,  and  Pompey's  Pillar  was 
only  92  feet.  This  immense  monolith  was  detached  from  the  vein  of 
brownstone  by  a  great  number  of  wedges  upon  which  fifty  workmen 
pounded  mauls  at  a  given  signal,  a  slight  crack  at  first  appearing,  which 
gradually  extended  for  the  whole  length  until  the  monster  was  com- 
pletely removed  from  the  rock. 

Wisconsin  was  assigned  1,701  square  feet  in  the  western  annex  of  the 
Fisheries  Building,  commonly  called  the  angling  pavilion.  There  the 
fish  of  the  state  are  thoroughly  illustrated  and  the  excellent  methods  of 
the  State  Fish  Commission  fully  demonstrated. 

Wisconsin's  horticulture  is  also  well  represented  at  the  Fair.      There 


470 


WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR. 


was  aiso  space  assigned  Wisconsin  in  the  floricultural  division  and  Chief 
Thorpe  received  several  fine  specimens  of  night-blooming  cereus,  palms 
and  flowering  plants  from  Wisconsin  growers.  The  state  was  also 
assigned  space  on  the  wooded  island  and  lawn  in  which  to  show  land- 
scape gardening  and  shrubbery  cultivation. 

The  women  of  Wisconsin  have  not  been  behind  the  men  in  their 
interest  in  the  World's  Fair.  In  fact  it  was  greatly  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  Wisconsin's  women  that  the  people  of  the  state  so  thor- 
oughly grasped  the  opportunity  offered  by  the  Fair  for  showing  their 
products.  The  ladies  who  are  on  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers  talked 


MINNESOTA    STATE    BUILDING. 

the  Fair  in  every  family  in  the  state,  and  formed  women's  clubs,  collected 
exhibits  of  industries  by  which  women  may  earn  their  living,  secured 
donations  for  the  Wisconsin  Building  and  have  as  fine  an  exhibit  in  the 
Woman's  Building  as  the  women  from  any  other  state  in  the  Union. 

Minnesota. 

The  decorations  of  the  State  Building  are  unique  and  interesting  in 
the  illustrating  of  what  can  be  done  with  grain  and  grass  in  the  hands 
of  skillful  decorators.  At  the  head  of  the  stair  leading  to  the  upper 
story  there  is  a  window  on  which  is  worked  in  pleasing  harmony  of 
colors  and  design,  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  state,  and  the  motto  "  L'Etoile 
du  Nord,"  which  means,  "  The  Star  of  the  North " — the  motto  of 


WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR.  471 

Minnesota.  Heavy-headed  stalks  of  wheat,  of  rich  golden-yellow,  are 
the  principal  material  used,  but  in  the  decorations  all  varieties  of  grain 
and  the  principal  grasses  are  utilized.  The  effect  of  this  blending  of 
colors  in  the  use  of  heads  of  grain,  timothy,  clover,  and  other  grasses  is 
as  pleasing  as  it  is  novel. 

To  the  ladies  of  Pipestone  credit  is  due  for  a  piece  of  work  that 
attracts  the  attention  of  all  visitors  at  the  building.  It  is  the  mantel- 
piece in  the  ladies'  reception-room,  the  center  of  which  is  carved  in  the 
form  of  a  book  and  labeled  "Songs  of  Hiawatha,  by  Longfellow."  An 
Indian  pipe  and  hatchet  appear  to  be  crossed  behind  the  book,  the  whole 
thing  being  a  highly  polished  piece  of  pipestone  four  feet  square.  An 
offer  of  $500  was  received  for  this  peculiar  and  handsome  piece  of 
interior  decoration. 

Minnesota  school  children  gave  a  piece  of  statuary  for  the  decoration 
of  the  building.  The  design  is  beautiful,  and  represents  Hiawatha  as  an 
idealized  Indian  of  fine  mold.  The  incident  of  the  poem  which  is  found 
delineated  in  the  statue  is  described  in  these  lines  : 

O'er  the  wide  and  rushing  river 
In  his  arms  he  bore  the  maiden. 

This  was  when  Hiawatha  and  Minnehaha  were  on  their  wedding 
journey  from  the  wigwam  of  the  father  to  that  of  the  lover.  The  model 
of  the  girl  is  as  fine  as  that  of  Hiawatha.  They  are  Indians,  but  such  as 
the  red  man  may  have  been  before  he  was  discovered  by  his  pale-faced 
brother.  Several  models  for  this  proposed  piece  of  statuary  were  sub- 
mitted, and  by  a  queer  chance  three  of  them  were  suggested  by  these 
lines.  The  Hiawatha  statue  was  made  in  plaster,  as  there  was  not  time  for 
putting  it  into  brqnze  before  the  Fair.  It  is  life-size,  and  is  placed  on 
the  main  porch  of  the  State  Building. 

A  Miniature  Prairie. 

To  see  a  Western  prairie  covered  with  wild  flowers  is  a  beauriful  sight, 
and  an  effort  was  made  to  show  those  who  are  interested  in  floriculture 
the  extensive  variety  of  wild  flowers  to  be  found  on  the  prairies  of  Min- 
nesota. Mrs.  L.  P.  Hunt,  of  Mankato,  collected  and  classified  more 
than  eight  hundred  varieties  of  the  wild  flowers  of  the  state,  and  they  are 
shown  in  swinging  cases.  The  same  accomplished  botanist  and  enthu- 
siastic friend  of  the  Fair  collected  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  varieties 
of  grasses  common  to  the  state,  and  these  are  shown  in  the  State 
Building. 

There  are  some  things  however  that  the  Minnesota  people  cannot 
very  well  show  at  the  World'$  Fair,  which  if  it  were  possible  to  exhibit 


472  WESTERN  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR. 

would  give  those  who  have  never  had  the  pleasure  of  visiting  the  state 
some  idea  of  its  attractiveness.  One  feature  is  the  hundreds  of  beautiful 
lakes,  with  water  so  pure  that  in  many  of  them  fish  can  be  seen  twenty 
feet  below  the  surface.  In  the  interior  of  the  state  there  are  many  lakes 
that  have  been  so  lavishly  furnished  by  nature  with  attractiveness  that 
the  lakes  of  better  known  localities,  famous  as  summer  resorts,  look 
common  pools  in  comparison.  That  strangers  may  get  some  idea  of 
the  natural  beauties  of  the  state,  the  commission  had  a  photographer  in 
its  service  for  many  weeks,  travelling  from  one  to  another  of  the  spots 
locally  famous  for  beautiful  scenery.  And  in  the  State  Building  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  photographs,  18  by  2.2  inches,  hang  on  the  walls, 
giving  an  idea,  one  totally  inadequate,  however,  of  some  of  the  natural 
scenery. 

Minnesota's  Animals. 

The  natural  history  exhibit  of  Minnesota,  which  is  placed  in  the  State 
Building,  was  prepared  by  Dr.  R.  O.  Sweeny,  of  Duluth.  It  contains 
specimens  of  moose,  elk,  deer,  caribou,  and  black  bear,  all  of  which  are 
plentiful  in  the  forests  of  Northern  Minnesota.  Some  of  the  finest 
specimens  extant  of  elk  and  moose  heads  are  shown.  In  addition  to 
this  part  of  the  exhibit,  which  was  collected  by  Dr.  Sweeny,  there  are 
some  live  elk  and  moose  on  the  ground  that  have  been  tamed  and 
broken  to  harness. 

Indian  curios  are  shown  in  great  profusion,  many  of  the  exhibits 
having  interesting  histories  dating  back  to  the  time  of  the  Little  Sioux 
massacre. 

A  feature  of  the  natural  wealth  of  Minnesota,  which  is  not  fully 
appreciated,  is  illustrated  by  means  of  a  fine  display  in  the  department 
of  mines  and  mining.  An  interesting  feature  of  this  exhibit  is  a  minia- 
ture mine  in  full  operation,  sent  from  Tower  City.  This  model  is  about 
six  feet  high  and  four  feet  wide,  and  its  object  is  to  demonstrate  the 
method  of  mining  iron  ore,  showing  all  the  various  levels,  apparatus 
pertaining  to  a  mine,  and  even  the  miners  with  their  lamps  on  their 
heads. 

Dedication  of  the  Building. 

The  Minnesota  State  Building  was  dedicated  May  i/th.  The  poem 
recited  on  the  occasion  contained,  among  others,  the  following  stanzas  : 

Star  of  the  North !     Thy  place  upon  the  field 
Of  stars  which  mists  of  ages  long  concealed 
Is  such  that  none  need  ever  blush  with  shame 
To  hear  the  sound  of  Minnesota's  honored  name. 


WESTERN   STATES  AT  THE  FAIR.  473 

Star  of  the  North  !  thou  home  of  changing  scene, 
Where  sapphire  lakes  begem  the  stretch  of  green, 
Where  wood,  and  dale,  and  fertile  plain, 
Dominion  lend  to  Plenty's  kindly  reign. 

Star  of  the  North  !     Thy  fame  upheld  by  noble  sons 

While  meadows  yield  and  water  runs ; 

Thy  name  deep  graven  on  the  Nation's  roll — 

Thyself  a  portion  of  the  Nation's  soul. 

Star  of  the  North  !     Thy  glory  cannot  fade 

To  mar  the  record  thou  hast  made, 

Nor  shall  there  ever  rise  a  star 

To  dim  thee  with  a  radiance  from  afar. 

Thy  temple  is  the  people's  loyal  heart, 

Which  throbs  to  tell  the  world  how  dear  thou  art ; 

But  here  among  the  nations  of  the  world, 

Where  every  flag  is  to  the  breeze  unfurled, 

We  rear  another  in  thine  honored  name — 

A  temple  to  thy  worth  and  fame, 

And  dedicate  it  to  the  fairest  State 

In  this  broad  land  incorporate. 

Colorado. 

Colorado  furnishes  the  Exposition  one  of  the  most  interesting  of  all 
the  special  exhibits,  the  "  Home  of  the  Cliff-Dwellers."  The  H.  Jay 
Smith  Exploring  Company  has  prepared  this  feature,  which  is  erected 
in  one  of  the  largest  and  most  novel  buildings  seen  at  Jackson  Park. 

After  the  framework  of  timber  was  raised  and  properly  braced  an  out- 
side coat  of  iron, "  staff,"  and  stone  was  applied.  This  gives  the  building 
an  appearance  of  being  a  solid  rock,  which  is  heightened  by  a  little  paint 
skillfully  applied,  and  a  forced  growth  of  moss  and  vines.  For  an  en- 
trance way  the  mouth  of  the  cave  in  which  the  cliff-dwellers  lived  is  re- 
produced. Passing  through  a  very  deceptive  ruin  the  visitor  enters 
the  mountain  to  find  himself  as  though  by  magic  transported  to  the  hot 
arid  waste  of  the  sandstone  formations  of  Southern  Colorado.  Scat- 
tered all  about  are  the  relics  of  the  pre-historic  race.  The  reproduction 
of  the  towers  and  fortifications  of  the  cliff-dwellers  affords  much  study 
for  those  interested  in  archaeology,  and  all  visitors  are  given  an  accurate 
idea  of  the  marvelous,  though  rude  palaces  which  are  the  most  novel 
features  of  the  great  West.  The  high  walls  of  the  canon  are  covered 
with  real  cactus,  Spanish  bayonet,  sage  bush,  pinon  and  cedar.  In  the 
peculiar  caverns  and  niches  in  the  sides  of  these  canons  are  reproduced 
the  homes  of  the  people  who  established  the  first  civilization  in  America. 
Their  utensils,  ornaments,  and  furniture  are  shown  just  as  found  by  the 


474 


WESTERN   STATES   AT  THE   FAIR. 


exploring  company  in  the  original  caves.  One  of  the  most  interesting 
features  of  the  display  is  a  mummy  so  well  preserved  as  to  give  an  idea 
of  the  appearance  of  the  individual  members  of  the  ancient  race. 

Ancient  Mummies  and  Other  Relics. 

Professor  F.  W.    Putnam,  chief  of  ethnology  and   archceofogy,  has 
placed  the  exhibits  so  that  the  visitor  begins  with  the  Indian  display, 
passes  through  the  Indian  villages  and  among  the  ancient  ruins  from' 
Mexico,  reaching  cliff-dwellers'  exhibit  last.     There  he  sees  not  only 
the  reproductions  of  the  ruins,  but  large  paintings,  drawings,  and  studies 


^  ''  ''•   '          '^^   '  ~^v^!?v^  ^j^f'Ipii&jlL 

VrV'V-^^vv^'C 


COLORADO    STATE    BUILDING. 

in  oil  and  water-colors,  numerous  maps  and  outlines  which  further  aid 
the  student. 

Among  the  relics  are  the  cooking  utensils,  pottery,  weapons  of  war- 
fare, textiles  of  a  most  peculiar  manufacture,  and  over  100  mummified 
remains  well  preserved  and  all  interesting  in  their  way.  A  part  of  the 
pack  train  and  equipment  of  the  exploring  party  forms  a  very  interest- 
ing feature,  and  one  new  to  every  one.  There  is  a  real  mountain  trail, 
where  persons  may  climb  to  their  heart's  content  assisted,  if  desired,  by 
the  sure-footed  pack  animals.  Every  endeavor,  in  fact,  is  made  to 
make  this  exhibit  interesting  as  well  as  instructive. 

Half  a  dozen  skeletons  in  a  good  state  of  preservation  are  shown, 
their  average  height  being  about  the  same  as  that  of  the  modern  Ameri- 
can. The  skulls  show  that  they  must  have  been  people  of  a  compara- 


WESTERN   STATES  AT  THE   FAIR.  475 

tively  high  state  of  civilization.  The  foreheads  are  high  and  there  are 
still  visible  fragmentary  locks  of  silken  blonde  hair  clinging  to  the  back 
of  the  skulls.  It  is  interesting  to  notice  that  no  traces  have  been  found 
of  any  metal  in  the  homes  of  the  cliff-dwellers.  Even  the  rungs  of  the 
ladders  which  they  used  to  ascend  to  their  lofty  houses  were  fastened  to 
the  side  pieces  with  vegetable  or  animal  fibers. 

Knew  how  to    Weave. 

The  specimens  of  cotton  cloth  shown  make  it  clear  that  the  cliff- 
dwellers  understood  the  art  of  weaving  and  on  the  walls  of  this  prehis- 
toric museum  hang  fragments  of  a  rough  wooden  loom.  It  was  found 
in  a  fairly  good  state  of  preservation  by  an  adventurous  ranchman  who 
took  no  pains  to  preserve  it  intact,  but  carried  away  some  of  the  pieces 
with  him.  The  process  of  making  other  cloth  from  the  fiber  of  the  yucca 
plant  is  well  illustrated,  both  by  the  specimens  of  the  instruments  used 
and  by  the  fiber  itself  in  different  stages  of  preparation.  Most  elaborate 
of  all,  however,  are  the  feather  robes  made  of  yucca  cloth  upon  which 
the  downy  feathers  of  some  probably  extinct  bird  have  been  fastened. 

In  these  interesting  cases  are  hundreds  of  rare  specimens  of  prehis- 
toric pottery.  Some  of  the  vases  and  bowls  are  elaborately  decorated 
with  geometric  designs  painted  in  black,  while  others  bear  the  figures 
of  men  and  animals.  On  the  huge  bowl  a  hunter  is  represented  shoot- 
ing an  arrow  at  an  angular  animal  which  bears  some  slight  resemblance 
to  a  deer.  On  the  handle  of  another  earthen  vase  are  figures  which 
look  more  like  sheep  than  anything  else,  though  no  traces  of  woolen 
cloth  have  so  far  been  found  in  the  ruined  dwellings  of  these  earliest  of 
pioneers. 

Several  of  the  vases  are  carved  in  irregular  forms,  and  all  of  them  are 
almost  as  hard  as  stone.  On  one  of  the  walls  are  hung  a  large  number 
of  soft  skin  sandals,  shod  with  which  the  cliff-men  were  able  to  climb  the 
steep  paths  which  led  up  to  the  monster  fastnesses.  There  are  also 
mats  formed  of  slender  reeds,  strung  together  with  animal  sinews. 
Rude  wooden  implements  of  warfare  are  shown,  as  well  as  wooden  tools 
supposed  to  have  been  used  in  tilling  the  ground. 

Houses  of  the  Cliff-Dwellers. 

In  the  great  hall  of  this  mimic  mountain  the  most  perfectly  perserved 
houses  of  the  cliff-dwellers  are  reproduced  in  miniature  and  one  may 
climb  through  the  narrow  galleries  leading  from  the  main  cave  to  look 
down  on  the  wells  and  the  deep  pits  with  which  the  rocky  canons  of 
the  Mancos  region  are  honeycombed.  Below  one  of  the  living  rooms 


476  |  WESTERN  STATES  AT  THE  FAIR. 

of  a  cliff  house  is  reproduced  exactly  as  it  was  found  by  the  explorers. 
In  the  center  are  a  couple  of  big  earthen  pots,  apparently  blackened  by 
fire.  The  floor  is  covered  with  great  stones,  which  are  supposed  to 
have  been  used  as  seats,  and  the  walls  are  plastered  with  clay  beaten 
smooth  with  wooden  paddles. 

Two  little  mouse-colored  burros,  mottled  with  brown,  are  the  only 
living  things  which  look  at  home  inside  the  caves.  Several  times  they 
have  broken  their  tethers  and  wandered  at  their  own  will  up  and  down 
the  mimic  precipices  and  the  slippery  trails.  But  to  the  scientist  who 
visits  the  Fair  this  exhibit  opens  an  endless  field  for  study  and  for 
speculation. 

A  thousand  specimens  of  Colorado  wild  flowers,  scientifically  arranged 
by  Miss  Laning,  are  placed  in  a  cabinet  and  represent  the  beauty  of  the 
state's  flora. 

Rare  Collection  of  Indian  Curiosities. 

Many  interesting  Indian  collections  have  been  secured  from  the 
Navajo  Indians,  who  live  on  the  reservation  in  the  southern  part  of 
Colorado.  The  alcove  in  the  southwest  stair  landing  has  been  orna- 
mented with  the  blankets  woven  by  these  Indian  women.  Two  Indian 
women  came  from  the  Navajo  tribe  and  weave  the  blankets  in  this  booth 
during  the  Exposition.  The  blankets  are  of  bright  reds  and  of  different 
designs.  Indian  shields  and  drums,  made  of  decorated  skins,  jewelry, 
beaded  work,  belts,  bows  and  arrows,  and  basket  work  are  shown  in  the 
exhibit. 

Beautifully  decorated  musical  instruments  and  weapons  of  Indian 
warfare  make  up  a  large  part  of  the  exhibit.  Rude  paintings  and  carv- 
ings give  an  idea  of  Indian  art.  A  magnificent  deer's  head  with  wide- 
spreading  antlers  speaks  of  the  spoils  of  the  chase.  In  one  corner  the 
bust  of  a  grim  old  Indian  chief,  Ignacio,  chief  of  the  Wieminuche  tribe 
and  head  chief  of  the  confederate  bands  of  Southern  Utes,  keeps  watch 
and  ward  over  the  treasures  of  the  daughters  of  the  tribe,  eyeing 
severely  all  onlookers  who  eye  covetously  the  belts  of  wampum  and 
curiously  carved  implements  hanging  on  the  opposite  wall. 

Ranged  about  are  cases  showing  the  gold  and  silver  ores,  specimens 
of  coal,  iron,  asphaltum,  building  stone,  raw  materials  of  many  kinds, 
clays,  and  the  petroleum  products.  There  are  also  photographs  of 
mines  and  mining  operations. 

North  Dakota. 

The  headquarters  for  North  Dakota  visitors  are  in  a  pretty,  hospi- 
table-looking building  adjacent  to  that  of  Kansas.  Though  only  50  by 


WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR. 


477 


75  feet,  it  contains  a  commodious  assembly  hall,  well-lighted,  and  with 
a  wide  fire  place  in  either  end.  It  also  has  the  necessary  committee- 
rooms,  reading  and  toilet  rooms.  The  ends  of  the  structure  are  of 
brick,  but  the  side  walls  are  frame,  with  plaster  panels.  At  the  entrance 
to  the  assembly  hall  a  large  panel  bears  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  State. 

George  D.  Benson,  of  Jamestown,  N.  D.,  is  an  artist  in  cereal 
mosaics.  With  wheat,  corn,  rye,  clover  seed,  corn  husks  and  flour  paste 
he  turns  out  designs  of  intricate  pattern  and  an  astonishing  variety  of 
colors.  In  the  interest  of  the  North  Dakota  exhibit  in  the  Agricul- 
tural Building  he  worked  out  a  mosaic  nearly  ten  feet  square.  It  rep- 


NORTH    DAKOTA   STATE   BUILDING. 

resents  an  armored  knight  on  horseback.  The  knight's  face  is  made  of 
wheat  of  various  shades  and  black  squaw  corn  colors  the  eyes.  The 
shirt  of  mail  is  made  of  red  corn  and  the  armor  of  yellow  corn  and  tim- 
othy grass  heads.  The  knight's  flowing  robe  is  formed  of  wheat  in  the 
head,  and  his  sword  of  clover  seed  and  corn.  Corn  silk  makes  a  realistic 
tail  for  the  prancing  war  horse,  whose  body  is  made  of  wheat.  Corn 
husks  are  cleverly  arranged  for  the  banner,  which  floats  from  a  pike 
pole  made  of  corn  kernels. 

Mr.  Benson  has  fashioned  a  statue  which  is  intended  to  convey  the 


478 


WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR. 


idea  that  "  Columbia's  favorite  child,  North  Dakota,  feeds  the  world." 
The  group,  with  its  pedestal,  measures,  thirty  feet  from  the  floor  to  its 
highest  point.  It  is  made  of"  staff''  and  tinted  «<ith  grain,  corn  husks 

and  other  cereals. 

South  Dakota. 

The  South  Dakota  Building  has  a  ground  area  of  70  by  126  feet,  and 
is  two  stories  high.  The  structure  is  frame,  the  exterior  being  covered 
with  Yankton  cement,  in  imitation  of  stone  work.  The  roof  is  of  cor- 
rugated iron  and  the  cornice  and  brackets  are  pressed  zinc.  The  main 


SOUTH   DAKOTA   STATE    BUILDING. 

entrance  is  on  the  east,  along  which  front  extends  a  wide  porch  with 
heavy  columns  supporting  a  balcony  from  the  second  story.  On  the 
left  of  the  main  entrance  is  a  woman's  parlor,  on  the  right  a  men's  re- 
ception-room. In  the  main  body  of  the  building  is  the  exhibition  hall 
44  by  58  feet.  Six  feet  above  the  main  floor  is  an  entresol,  having 
committee  rooms  for  the  two  boards  of  commissioners.  In  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  main  floor  is  a  room  for  press  correspondents.  The 
rotunda  in  the  centre  of  the  building  extends  through  to  the  roof  and  is 
covered  with  a  skylight.  The  second  floor  is  devoted  to  rooms  for  the 
woman's  exhibit  and  for  special  State  exhibits. 

Wyoming. 

Wyoming,  although  young  in  Statehood,  was  first  to  make  an  official 
appropriation  for  the  World's  Fair  purposes — the  most  liberal  one,  in 


WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE  FAIR. 


479 


proportion  to  the  population,  that  was  made.  The  building  like 
many  others,  is  stuccoed,  in  imitation  of  stone.  Its  estimated  cost  is 
$  i  o,OOO. 

The  people  of  Wyoming  realize  that  the  Columbian  Exposition  offers 
an  unusual  opportunity  to  make  known  to  the  world  the  varied  material 
resources  of  their  state — her  coal  lands,  wells  of  oil,  soda  deposits,  and 
rich  mines  of  iron  and  precious  metals.  The  exhibit  is  arranged  with 
the  object  of  showing  forth  the  advantages  of  the  state,  both  to  home- 
seekers  of  limited  means  and  capitalists  seeking  fields  of  investment. 
To  this  end  the  classification  includes  Wyoming's  best  specimens  of 


WYOMING  STATE  BUILDING. 

wheat,  corn,  oats,  barley,  rye,  buckwheat,  native  and  cultivated  grasses 
and  forage  plants. 

Irrigation  methods  are  illustrated  with  maps  and  diagrams.  The 
live  stock  exhibit  includes  the  best  specimens  of  blooded  horses  and 
cattle,  and  illustrations  of  methods  of  handling  range  horses,  cattle  and 
sheep. 

Specimens  of  the  present  and  extinct  animal  life  of  the  state,  petrifac- 
tion and  native  guns,  Indian  implements,  dress,  and  ornaments  were 
carefully  collected  by  the  committee  on  scenic  exhibits,  and  form  a  most 
interesting  feature  of  the  state's  contribution  to  the  great  Fair.  The 
committee  endeavor,  by  means  of  paintings,  photographs  and  models, 
to  illustrate  some  of  the  striking  features  of  Wyoming  and  its  leading 
industries. 


480 


WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR. 


Idaho. 

The  handsome  Building  of  Idaho  is  suggestive  of  the  Forestry 
Building  in  miniature.  It  is  on  the  rustic  order  and  cost  $i 5,000. 
The  matter  of  the  decoration  was  in  the  hands  of  the  women  of 
Idaho.  One  of  the  special  features  of  the  exhibit  is  that  pertaining  to 
mining.  On  the  whole  exhibit,  including  the  building,  $120,000  were 
expended. 

The  fireplaces  in  the  rooms  of  this  building  are  composed  of  the 
different  stones  and  bricks  produced  by  this  wonderful  state.  The  long 


IDAHO   STATE    BUILDING. 

main  hall  is  decorated  in  mica.  Over  $3,000  worth  was  expended  in 
this  hall  alone,  and  the  rooms  are  finished  in  the  different  woods  of  the 
state  and  named  as  decorated.  There  is  a  "  pine  room,"  a  "  fir  room," 
a  "  cedar  room,"  a  "  tamarack  room,"  and  a  "  spruce  room." 

Idaho  figs  are  one  of  the  surprises.  V.  D.  Hannah  has  two  fig  trees 
on  his  ranch  on  Mann's  creek  in  Washington  County  that  are  prolific 
bearers.  They  require  a  little  care  in  the  winter,  but  with  this  fig 
culture  can  be  made  very  profitable  in  this  state.  That  one  box  of  figs, 
raised  at  an  altitude  of  nearly  2,500  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  does 
more  to  illustrate  the  temperate  character  of  Idaho's  winters  than 
volumes  of  weather  bureau  reports. 


WESTERN   STATES   AT  THE   FAIR.  481 

The  Ada  County  exhibit  contains  2,000  pounds  of  dried  fruit. 
Some  of  this  is  left  in  bulk  to  be  sampled  by  the  visitor,  and  the 
remainder  is  artistically  packed  in  design  in  small  boxes.  Among  the 
lot  is  a  fine  collection  of  prunes,  French,  Silver  and  Italian.  These 
varieties  are  easily  distinguished  by  their  color  and  size.  In  the  center 
of  each  box  of  Italian  prunes,  just  under  the  glass  cover,  is  placed  a 
large  letter  of  the  alphabet  made  of  dried  apples.  The  Italian  prune 
being  of  a  lustrous  black,  and  the  apple  of  a  delicate  white,  a  pretty 
effect  is  produced  which  must  be  seen  to  be  appreciated.  The  letters,— 
when  the  boxes  are  arranged  in  order,  spell  the  words,  "  Idaho,  Gem  of 
the  Mountains." 

Idaho  is  rich  in  petrifactions,  but  the  collection  for  the  World's  Fair 
is  not  large.  It  is  the  common  remark  of  many,  "  I  would  have  brought 
you  in  some  petrified  wood,  but  I  supposed  you  had  plenty."  The 
chief  specimen  in  this  department  is  a  sample  from  the  petrified  forest 
in  Custer  County,  near  Challis.  This  distinctly  shows  the  bark  and 
wood  of  a  conifer,  a  species  of  the  pine.  The  stump  from  which  this 
was  taken  is  14  feet  above  the  ground,  12  feet  in  diameter  at  the  top, 
and  25  at  the  base.  The  bark  is  6  inches  thick.  Photographs  of  this 
giant  of  past  ages  are  shown. 

Some  Excellent  Exhibits. 

It  is  a  surprise  to  many  residents  of  Idaho  as  Well  as  to  the  outside 
world  to  know  that  cotton  can  be  successfully  grown  in  the  Snake  River 
Valley.  V.  D.  Hannah  has  raised  on  his  ranch,  eight  miles  above 
Weiser,  as  fine  cotton  as  ever  grew  in  Mississippi.  Cotton  in  1892  did 
not  do  well,  as  the  late  spring  did  not  admit  of  its  being  planted  in 
time.  However,  Mr.  Hannah  has  some  from  his  crop  of  former  years 
which  was  sent  to  the  World's  Fair. 

The  Idaho  exhibit  of  precious  stones  contains  opals  from  the  mines 
recently  discovered  on  Snake  River,  fifteen  miles  from  Caldwell. 
Reports  from  the  mines  vary,  but  the  opals  appear  to  be  found  in  a 
matrix  from  four  to  ten  inches  in  width.  Some  of  them  are  very  fine, 
and  are  said  to  be  worth  $50  or  $60  each. 

Idaho  also  exhibits  a  mineral  shield.  It  is  a  work  of  art  and  is 
characteristic  not  only  of  western  invention,  but  it  represents  in  material 
and  design  the  physical  features  of  the  state  as  well  as  its  staple  products, 
industries  and  commerce.  The  minerals  used  are  magnesia  stone  and 
black  and  white  marble.  The  magnesia  stone  has  been  used  with  good 
effect  as  a  groundwork,  upon  which  has  been  carved  with  remarkable 
accuracy  the  outlines  of  an  Idaho  canyon.  This  is  flanked  on  either 
31 


482  WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE  FAIR. 

side  by  ranges  of  mountains  in  black  marble,  the  effect  of  which  is  very 
real.  A  tiny  ribbon  of  white  marble  represents  a  river.  Scattered 
around  in  the  distance  may  be  seen  the  stamp  mill,  the  lone  pine  tree> 
and  the  farmer's  boy  plowing  in  the  valley,  while  the  rising  sun  behind 
the  mountain  gives  the  last  touch  to  a  realistic  picture  of  an  Idaho  land- 
scape on  a  spring  morning. 

On  the  right  of  the  shield  stands  a  prospector,  rather  less  than  life 
size,  on  the  left  a  representation  of  Justice  in  female  form.  The  pedestal 
is  formed  of  a  sheaf  of  wheat  and  the  "  Star  of  Idaho."  The  apex  is  a 
scroll,  on  which  is  carved  the  state  motto.  Beneath  this,  and  over  the 
shield,  is  the  head  of  an  elk,  apparently  frightened  at  the  position  in 
which  it  finds  itself.  The  entire  shield  is  of  Idaho  material,  fashioned 
by  the  brains  and  hands  of  people  from  the  state. 

Washington. 

Washington's  State  Building  is  an  odd  structure,  and  about  its  rude 
walls  there  is  an  odor  of  the  forest.  Its  foundation  plans  embrace  a 
main  hall  space  118  by  72  feet,  with  which  are  connected  two  wings  118 
by  40  feet.  The  main  entrance  of  the  building  is  to  the  east,  and  from  each 
corner  of  the  main  structure  square  towers  rise  up,  inclosing  staircases  to 
galleries.  These  galleries  are  52  by  15  feet,  overlooking  the  main  hall. 
The  east  entrance  of  the  building  is  under  a  great  stone  arch,  which  is 
the  only  stonework  about  the  structure.  This  arch  is  built  of  alternate 
blocks  of  gray  tinino,  blue  chuckanut  and  white  Pittsburgh  stone. 

Foundations  of  the  building  are  of  great  fir  logs,  laid  five  deep.  Two 
base  logs  at  the  north  and  south  ends  are  each  127  feet  long,  and  after 
having  been  slabbed  off  very  deeply  are  still  eight  feet  in  diameter  at 
the  butt  ends.  The  heavier  of  these  weighs  36,000  pounds  and  occupied 
four  flat  cars  in  transit.  In  squaring  three  sides  enough  lumber  was 
cut  away  to  build  a  good-sized  cottage,  while  in  the  log  itself  is  material 
for  a  big  house.  These  logs  were  all  squared  on  three  sides,  presenting 
a  rounded  surface  to  the  outside.  These  are  left  in  their  natural  state. 
Mills  which  handled  these  logs  are  the  largest  in  the  world,  and  such 
timber  could  be  handled  nowhere  else.  The  largest  of  these  sections 
were  cut  from  trees  300  feet  in  height,  which  had  not  a  branch  less  than 
150  feet  from  the  earth.  The  value  of  the  fir  as  a  tree  may  be  judged  by 
the  fact  that  its  tensile  strength  is  equal  to  that  of  oak. 

A  Sky-Piercing   Flag-Staff. 

This  foundation  constitutes  a  timber  exhibit  from  Washington.  The 
two  wings  form  a  single  room  each,  and  are  devoted  to  state  exhibits^ 


WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR. 


483 


Nearly  all  of  the  first  floor  of  the  main  building  is  devoted  to  a  recep- 
tion room,  while  in  the  second  story  are  committee-rooms,  parlors  re- 
ception and  toilet  rooms.  The  roof  is  of  shingles,  and  the  interior  is  fin- 
ished in  cedar  and  fir.  All  of  the  material  used  in  the  building  comes 
from  Washington,  the  lumber  coming  from  far  ofTPuget  Sound,  while  the 
main  entrance,  an  important  decorative  feature,  is  of  granite,  marble,  and 
ore  from  quarries  within  the  state.  This  young  state  spent  $100,000  in 
collecting  an  exhibit  worthy  of  its  resources,  and  $50,000  in  the  construc- 


r 


WASHINGTON    STATE    BUILDING. 

tionofits  official  headquarters.  The  sky-reaching  flag- staff,  208  feet  in 
height,  was  first  236  feet  in  length.  It  is  of  native  timber,  and  weighs 
32  tons.  To  her  sister  states  Washington  has  donated  about  40  flag- 
poles, ranging  from  100  to  125  feet  in  length,  placed  in  front  of  their  re- 
spective headquarters.  At  first  view  the  Washington  Building,  with  its 
quaint  towers,  reminds  one  of  a  Holland  residence  and  windmill.  It  is 
unlike  any  other  structure  on  the  grounds,  and  invites  favorable  atten- 
tion to  the  enterprising  state  which  it  represents. 

Skeleton  of  a  Whale. 

Washington  has  a  curious  exhibit  in  the  Fisheries  Building ;  it  is 
nothing  less  than  the  skeleton  of  a  whale.  One  day  a  lot  of  Makah  In- 
dians saw  this  whale  splashing  around  off  Cape  Flattery,  and  before 
many  hours  they  had  filled  his  hide  so  full  of  lances  and  harpoons  that 


484 


WESTERN   STATES   AT  THE   FAIR. 


he  resembled  a  mammoth  pincushion.  They  failed  to  kill  the  big  fish, 
however,  and  several  weeks  later  the  carcass  floated  ashore  in  Puget 
Sound,  more  than  one  hundred  miles  away  from  the  spot  where  the 
Makah  Indians  tried  their  hands  at  harpoon  throwing. 

The  people  of  Seattle,  Wash.,  heard  of  the  dead  whale  and  concluded 
to  use  its  skeleton  for  business  purposes.  After  spending  several  hun- 
dred dollars  in  cleaning  the  bones,  they  put  them  together  with  wires 
and  steel  rods  and  sent  the  skeleton  to  the  Exposition  at  Tacoma  to 
show  their  rivals  what  big  fish  could  be  caught  in  the  water  surround- 


MONTANA    STATE     BUILDING. 

ing  Seattle.  This  skeleton  is  a  feature  of  Washington's  exhibit  in  the 
Fisheries  Building.  The  whale  has  a  framework  of  bones  over  fifty 
feet  long  and  weighing  several  thousand  pounds.  The  bones  of  the  head 
alone  weigh  over  800  pounds,  and  some  of  the  ribs  are  as  much  as  a 
man  would  care  to  lift.  The  jawbones  are  at  least  twelve  feet  long,  and 
the  flippers  look  like  the  bones  of  the  hand  of  a  giant  about  sixty  feet  tall. 
Washington  also  sends  a  block  of  coal  weighing  56,000  pounds,  an 
exhibit  that  does  not  need  to  be  watched  lest  it  should  be  stolen. 

Montana. 

The  Montana  Building  is  in  the  Romanesque  style  of  architecture,  one 
story  in  height.     It  has  a  ground  area  of  62  feet  front  by  113  feet  deep. 


WESTERN   STATES   AT  THE   FAIR.  485 

The  structure  is  frame,  covered  with  "  staff,"  the  interior  being 
ornamented  with  heavy,  projecting  pilasters,  with  Roman  caps  and 
bases  and  Roman  arches.  The  roof  is  of  tin  and  canvas,  and  the  build- 
ing is  surmounted  by  a  glass  dome  22  feet  in  diameter  and  33  feet 
high. 

Visitors  to  the  Montana  Building  are  invited  to  inspect  a  fossil  bone, 
in  the  shape  of  a  gigantic  vertebra,  which  the  gentlemen  in  charge  of  the 
building  have  reason  to  regard  as  something  of  great  scientific  interest 
and  value.  It  is  the  property  of  Col.  J.  H.  Ray,  residing  at  Glendive, 
Dawson  County,  Mont.,  and  was  dug  up  in  1887  in  a  gravel  pit  near  the 
town,  and  near  the  Yellowstone  River,  during  the  construction  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  railroad  track  in  that  locality.  No  other  bones  were 
found  near  it. 

G.  W.  Marshall,  a  ranchman  living  in  the  Upper  Madison  Basin,  Mon- 
tana, makes  an  interesting  collection  of  animals.  The  collection  consists 
of  a  bunch  of  seventeen  elk,  two  Rocky  Mountain  sheep,  several  white 
and  black  tail  deer  and  antelope.  Mr.  Marshall's  ranch  is  located  within 
three  miles  of  the  edge  of  Yellowstone  Park,  in  the  greatest  game  region 
in  the  country,  and  for  a  number  of  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  rais- 
ing and  domesticating  elk,  deer  and  other  animals.  One  of  the  moun- 
tain sheep  captured  by  Mr.  Marshall  is  about  twelve  years  old  and  it  is 
claimed  to  be  the  only  full  grown  mountain  sheep  ever  caught.  The 
other  sheep  was  caught  when  a  lamb  and  raised  by  Mr.  Marshall.  The 
elk,  deer  and  antelope  are  magnificent  specimens  of  their  kind,  and  the 
whole  collection  forms  a  most  attractive  exhibit. 

California. 

California  seems  to  have  entered  into  the  work  of  preparing  an  ex- 
hibit for  the  Exposition  with  a  resolve  to  outdo  all  competitors.  With 
a  vim  and  vigor  characteristic  of  the  people  of  that  state,  displays  were 
prepared  showing  the  varied  resources  of  the  empire  west  of  the  Rockies. 
The  building  is  a  reproduction  of  one  of  the  old  Dominican  Mission 
Chapels  of  Southern  California.  In  appearance  it  is  decidedly  interest- 
ing, and  so  faithful  was  the  work  of  reproduction  that  romance  seems  to 
cling  to  the  rough  stone  walls.  The  architect  departed  from  the  original 
only  to  interject  enough  of  the  more  ornate  Moorish  style  to  relieve  the 
somber  effect.  The  building  is  a  clear  story  with  a  great  flat  dome  as  a 
crowning  feature,  and  the  semi-tropical  appearance  is  heightened  by  roof 
gardens.  The  measurements  of  the  structure  are  500  by  1 10  feet,  and 
the  elevation  of  the  dome  is  eighty  feet.  In  this  building  Schmid's  co- 
lossal figure,  typical  of  California,  is  a  feature. 


486 


WESTERN   STATES   AT  THE   FAIR. 


The  ladies  of  California  took  an  active  interest  in  the  Fair,  and  secured 
the  right  to  decorate  and  furnish  one  of  the  reception  rooms  in  the 
Woman's  Building.  This  is  known  as  the  "  California  Room  "  and  is 
one  of  the  most  attractive  departments  in  the  entire  building.  The  red- 
wood lumber  dealers  furnished  the  wood  for  the  panels,  and  $2,000  was 
raised  to  pay  an  expert  for  the  carving  and  graining.  The  cactus  was 
taken  as  the  motive  of  the  decoration,  and  is  shown  in  every  feature  of 
the  room. 

All  of  California's  mineral  exhibit  is  one  of  the  best.  Every  mining 
county  in  the  state  is  represented,  and  ore  from  all  famous  California 


CALIFORNIA    STATE    BUILDING. 

mines  is  included  in  the  exhibit.     The  gold  ores  are  made  a  special  fea- 
ture, and  the  finest  possible  specimens  were  gathered. 

First   Gold   Nugget   Found   in  the   State. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  exhibits  in  the  Mines  Building  is  the  first 
nugget  of  gold  ever  discovered  in  California.  It  is  exhibited  by  Judge 
W.  W.  Allen,  of  San  Francisco.  It  was  picked  up  accidentally  by 
James  W.  Marshall  on  the  morning  of  January  19,  1848.  The  news 
soon  spread  that  gold  had  been  discovered,  and  then  commenced  that 
period  of  the  California  gold  fever  when  there  was  a  general  exodus 
from  all  the  Eastern  States  to  this  new  land  of  Ophir.  The  stirring 
events  that  followed  were  all  dependent  on  the  finding  of  this  piece  of 
precious  metal. 

In  addition  to  getting  a  concession  to  exhibit  the  genuine  article  in 
the  Mines  Building  Judge  Allen  was  granted  a  concession  to  exhibit 


WESTERN   STATES   AT   THE   FAIR. 


487 


and  sell  fac-similes  of  the  nugget.  Speaking  of  the  concession  and  his 
plans  for  taking  advantage  of  it,  the  gentleman  said :  "  The  commis- 
sioners of  California  and  the  World's  Fair  authorities  have  a  full 
appreciation  of  the  interest  which  all  the  world  must  feel  in  the  import- 
ance of  this  little  bit  of  gold,  which,  gave  material  progress  such  a  rush 
in  all  parts  of  the  world  only  forty-five  years  ago.  The  fact  is,  imagina- 
tion gets  tired  when  an  attempt  is  made  to  catalogue  what  the  discovery 
of  this  nugget  of  gold  has  accomplished.  It  is  not  certain  that  gold 
would  have  been  discovered  during  this  century  if  James  W.  Marshall 
had  not  happened  upon  it  that  morning  of  January  19,  1848.  It  is  well 


TERRITORIAL   BUILDING. 

known  that  small  lumps  of  gold  had  been  discovered  in  New  South 
Wales  nearly  a  hundred  years  before  its  discovery  in  California,  and  no 
significance  was  given  these  discoveries  until  after  Hargreaves  had  been 
trained  in  the  California  gold  fields  as  to  the  soil  and  surroundings  in 
which  gold  was  likely  to  be  found." 

Just  under  the  big  dome  of  the  California  Building  is  a  palm  tree  127 
years  old.  The  tree  is  fifty  feet  high,  and  has  been  one  of  the  attractions 
for  tourists  as  they  drove  up  the  bay  of  San  Diego  to  the  ruins  of  the 
old  mission,  which  is  up  San  Diego  river  several  miles  from  the  bay. 
The  removal  of  the  huge  plant  was  something  of  a  problem.  A  box 


488 


WESTERN    STATES   AT   THE   FAIR. 


was  sunk  around  its  roots  in  an  excavation  made  for  the  purpose,  and 
the  tree  thus  inclosed  was  lifted  by  a  derrick  with  the  earth  about  the 
roots  bound  to  the  tree  by  the  protecting  box. 

Utah. 

The  Territory  of  Utah  makes  a  creditable  display  at  the  World's  Fair. 
The  handsome  little  building  was  erected  entirely  by  private  subscrip- 
tions amounting  to  $60,000.  The  architect  succeeded  in  designing  a 
group  of  structures  that  are  perfectly  characteristic  of  the  Mormon 
Territory. 

The  main  structure  is  a  two-story  affair  48  by  84  feet  in  surface  ex- 


UTAH    BUILDING. 

tent  and  60  feet  to  its  highest  point.  Ionic  columns  and  pilasters  form 
the  main  support  and  guard  the  doors  and  windows.  The  central  in- 
terior has  a  circular  well  extending  from  the  ground  floor  to  the  domed 
skylight. 

Around  this  space  are  arranged  the  ladies'  and  gentlemen's  reception 
and  commissioners'  rooms.  The  exhibits  that  go  into  the  building 
are  arranged  around  the  well  space  on  the  two  floors.  They  repre- 
sent the  industries  of  the  territory  and  include  agricultural,  manufac- 
tured and  mined  products.  Of  the  latter,  gold,  silver  and  sulphur  are 
the  principal  ones.  With  them  are  shown  plans  illustrating  their 
methods  of  reducing  sulphur  and  the  handling  of  borax  and  rock  salt 


WESTERN   STATES  AT  THE  FAIR.  489 

found  in  some  parts  of  the  territory  as  clear  as  crystal.  A  generous 
space  is  given  to  displays  from  the  beet-sugar  refining  district  and  to  the 
silk-worm  industry. 

The  Famous  "Eagle  Gate." 

Standing  just  before  the  main  entrance  is  a  fac-simile  of  the  famous 
"  Eagle  gate,"  which  in  Salt  Lake  City  stands  before  the  Mormom  tem- 
ple. The  gilded  eagle,  with  outspread  wings  symbolizing  hospitable 
protection  to  all  who  may  seek  it,  rests  on  four  flaring  supports  which 
slope  from  the  centre  to  the  sustaining  columns.  Apart  from  its  asso- 
ciation with  polygamy,  it  is  simple,  tasty,  and  pleasing  in  appearance. 
The  group  of  structures  is  completed  by  a  circular  affair  eighteen  feet 
in  diameter,  containing  a  miniature  of  Salt  Lake.  The  reproduction  is 
as  nearly  exact  as  can  be,  and  is  filled  with  water  brought  from  the 
original  lake. 

Don  Maguire,  chief  of  the  Utah  mining  exhibit,  has  a  unique  collec- 
tion of  antiquities  found  in  caverns  in  the  southern  part  of  the  territory. 
The  most  interesting  feature  is  a  number  of  mummies,  probably  thous- 
ands of  years  old,  but  still  in  a  good  state  of  preservation. 

There  is  one  mummy  of  a  child,  probably  less  than  a  year  old.  The 
body  was  laid  to  rest  at  full  length  and  is  fairly  well  preserved.  The 
next  mummy  is  that  of  a  child  probably  ten  years  of  age.  It  was 
buried  in  the  usual  custom,  having  the  feet  cramped  up  and  the  hands 
placed  under  the  chin.  The  most  perfect  specimen  is  that  of  an  adult 
mari,  the  length  of  which  is  five  feet  and  ten  inches.  It  is  partially 
wrapped  up  in  a  cloth  made  of  feathers.  The  man  was  evidently  of  fine 
physique.  The  feet  are  well  shaped  and  rather  small.  He  is  stretched 
out  at  full  length.  He  has  a  well-shaped  head  with  a  broad  forehead. 
The  teeth  are  perfect,  and  the  skin  is  of  a  deep-brown  color  and  looks 
as  if  it  had  been  tanned.  The  skull  shows  a  remarkable  depression  at 
the  back,  and  it  is  supposed  that  the  natural  shape  of  the  head  was 
artificially  changed  in  infancy,  as  such  a  practice  was  common  in  recent 
times  among  some  tribes  of  Indians. 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 
Great  Britain  and  Colonies. 

THE  British  exhibit  is   the   creation  of  the  Society  of  Arts  of 
London.  This  venerable  society  was  founded  in  1754,  "  for  the 
encouragement  of  the  arts,  manufactures,  and  commerce  of  the 
country."  It  held  in   1760  the  first  English  exhibition  of  pic- 
tures, and   in    1761   the  first  industrial  exhibition  held  in  any  country, 
and  has  been  closely  associated  with  every  exhibition,  English   or  in- 
ternational, ever  since.     Prince  Albert  was  its  President  for  many  years, 
and  ever  since  his  death  the  President   has  been  the  Prince  of  Wales, 
who  has  always  attached  the  greatest  importance  to  international  exhi- 
bitions,  and  took  a  very  active  part  in  those  held  at  Vienna  in   1873 
and  at  Paris  in  1 878.     On  both  of  these  occasions  he  was  the  working 
President  of  the  British  Commission. 

For  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition  the  commission  consists  of 
the  Council  of  the  Society  of  Arts,  with  sufficient  additions  to  swell  the 
number  to  about  fifty  persons.  Of  this  body  the  Prince  of  Wales  is  the 
President,  and  Sir  Henry  Trueman  Wood  the  Secretary.  Among  the 
members  are  the  Duke  of  Edinburg,  the  Duke  of  Abercorn,  James 
Dredge  of  Engineering,  Walter  H.  Harris,  and  quite  a  number  of  men 
distinguished  in  trade,  in  the  arts,  in  letters,  and  in  government. 

Organization  of  the  Country. 

The  British  Government  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  commission 
$125,000,  afterward  increased  to  $300,000,  and  it  addressed  itself  to  the 
task  of  creating  an  exhibit  in  the  most  prompt,  systematic,  and  industri- 
ous manner.  A  thorough  organization  of  every  part  of  the  Empire  and 
its  dependencies  and  of  every  branch  of  the  exhibit  was  made,  and  every 
subject  was  worked  up  in  the  most  intelligent  and  scientific  manner. 
These  labors  are  displayed  in  the  magnificent  Official  Catalogue,  an  oc- 
tavo volume  of  600  pages,  published  by  the  commission,  containing 
among  other  things  brief  but  learned  introductions,  by  specialists,  to 
every  considerable  branch  of  the  exhibit. 

The  result  was  that  all  of  the  500,000  square  feet  of  space  placed  at 
the  disposal  of  the  commission  was  speedily  taken,  leaving  many  ap- 
plicants disappointed.  The  list  of  colonies  represented  at  the  Exposi- 
490 


GREAT   BRITAIN   AND   COLONIES. 


491 


tion  includes  Canada,  New  South  Wales,  Cape  Colony,  Ceylon,  British 
Guiana,  Jamaica,  and  Trinidad.  In  addition  the  Government  of  India 
appropriated  40,000  rupees  to  the  Indian  Tea  Association's  exhibit  and 


WALKER   FEARN,  CHIEF   OF   FOREIGN   EXHIBITS. 


10,000  rupees  to  the  Delhi  Art  Manufacture  exhibit,  including  the  erec- 
tion of  the  India  Building. 

Expensive  Booths  and  Pavilions. 

The  departments  in  which  the  best  results  have  been  obtained  are 
Transportation,  Thomas  Baker,  Superintendent ;  Fine  Arts,  J.  W.  Beck, 
Superintendent.  The  Fine  Arts  Department  is  enriched  by  loans  from 
the  collections  of  Queen  Victoria,  the  Prince  of  Wales,  the  Duke  of 
Edinburg,  the  Duchess  of  Albany,  the  Earl  of  Aberdeen,  and  hundreds 
of  wealthy  people  in  England. 


492  GREAT  BRITAIN  AND   COLONIES. 

The  British  manufacturers'  exhibit  occupies  the  southeast  corner  at 
the  great  central  crossroads  of  the  Manufactures  and  Liberal  Arts 
Building,  the  other  quarters  being  occupied  by  Germany,  France  and 
the  United  States.  The  external  appearance  of  the  section  is  decidedly 
flat.  The  best  view  of  the  lower  floor  of  the  building  is  obtained  from 
the  gallery  in  the  southeast  corner,  for  the  reason  that  there  is  nothing 
in  the  British  quarter  to  obstruct  it.  But  if  any  one  infers  from  the  fact 
that  the  booths  and  pavilions  are  all  one-storied  and  squatty,  that  they 
are  not  elegant  and  costly,  and  that  they  do  not  contain  some  of  the 
very  greatest  attractions  of  the  Exposition,  he  makes  the  greatest  pos- 
sible mistake.  The  unassuming  booth  of  the  Royal  Porcelain  Factory 
of  Worcester  cost  $10,000,  and  that  of  the  Doulton  Pottery  Company 
$25,000. 

Silver,  old  and  new,  glitters  from  cases  in  the  British  section.  Women 
who  wander  down  Columbia  Avenue  far  enough  to  stumble  upon  a  col- 
lection in  which  there  are  pieces  of  silver,  gilt  and  Danish  plate  dating 
back  to  1600,  are  not  going  away  without  envious  sensations  that  will 
result  ultimately  in  possession — that  is,  if  their  purses  are  long  enough. 

There  is  a  service  made  for  the  Prince  of  Wales,  who  afterwards 
became  King  George  IV.,  that  proves  a  stumbling  block  to  economical 
intentions.  It  is  of  silver  gilt,  and  consists  of  a  tea-kettle  and  a  coffee- 
pot in  addition  to  the  usual  full  tea  service.  The  tea-caddy,  which,  like 
the  other  pieces,  is  severe  in  outline  and  unadorned,  is  furnished  with  a 
lock  and  key,  a  significant  reminder  that  when  it  was  made  tea  was 
worth  something  like  $40  a  pound.  The  service  bears  the  date  1792- 
1795.  A  Norwegian  "  peg"  tankard  made  in  1683, a  lemon  strainer  of 
the  time  of  good  Queen  Anne,  old  Irish  bowls,  with  mask-head  handles, 
made  in  1707  ;  sauceboats  that  once  belonged  to  Queen  Caroline,  away 
back  in  1782,  are  among  the  many  quaint  things  in  the  exhibit. 

Beautiful  Silver  Ship. 

A  costly  piece  that  is  especially  rare  is  a  little  square  waiter  engraved 
in  a  conventional  scroll  designed  by  Hogarth  and  made  in  1720.  The 
price  of  this  is  $500,  and  that  notwithstanding  it  is  only  four  inches  from 
edge  to  edge.  A  large  chased  silver  rosewater  dish,  made  in  1683  and 
valued  at  $800,  is  also  regarded  with  respect  by  those  who  have  it  in 
charge.  Another  remarkable  piece  is  a  Spanish  wine  "  nef  "  or  ship  in 
silver  exquisitely  chased  with  figures  of  sea  nymphs  and  tritons.  The 
top  of  this  massive  piece  of  plate  lifts  off  and  so  transforms  it  into  a  wine 
cup.  The  date  is  uncertain,  but  the  ship  plainly  belongs  to  the  fifteenth 
century.  Not  of  least  importance  in  this  display  of  Wells  Brothers  is 


GREAT   BRITAIN   AND   COLONIES.  493 

the  great  silver  gilt  crown  worn  by  the  Duke  of  Sussex  at  the  coronation 
of  Queen  Victoria. 

In  striking  contrast  to  the  old  ware  are  the  "  Exposition  Clock,"  the 
"  Columbian  Shield,"  and  the  "  Shakespearean  Casket  "•  exhibited  to- 
gether. The  Exposition  clock  is  a  remarkable  bit  of  workmanship,  as 
the  price  set  upon  it,  $5,000,  indicates.  It  is  octagonal  in  form,  and  is 
composed  of  finest  American  walnut,  with  elegantly  chased,  richly  gilt 
ornaments,  the  cotton  plant  and  flower  being  the  principal  subjects.  It 
bears  eight  panels,  representing  the  sports  :  swimming,  running,  yacht- 
ing, cycling,  base-ball,  trotting,  and  jumping,  with  a  view  of  Brooklyn 
bridge.  Each  panel  is  surmounted  by  a  portrait  of  a  President — 
Washington,  Lincoln,  Grant,  Jackson,  Garfield,  Harrison  and  Cleveland. 
There  is  also  a  medallion  portrait  of  Queen  Victoria.  The  clock  has 
four  dials,  showing  English,  American,  French  and  Spanish  times. 
Round  the  clock  are  twelve  figures,  representing  players  in  cricket, 
rowing,  shooting,  polo,  racing,  lacrosse,  boxing,  running,  tennis,  foot- 
ball and  wrestling.  Four  columns  support  brackets  with  vases,  between 
each  two  of  which  are  figures  signifying  progress  in  art,  science, 
industry  and  engineering.  At  each  hour  English  and  American 
anthems  are  played,  the  time  being  denoted  by  a  chime  of  eight  bells, 
the  Westminister  chimes  on  four  gongs,  and  the  hour  on  one  gong.  All 
can  be  repeated  at  will.  The  figures  revolve  in  procession  as  the  clock 
strikes  each  quarter. 

The  shield  is  made  entirely  of  silver,  with  panels  modeled  and  chased 
in  high  relief,  representing  various  scenes  in  connection  with  the  dis- 
covery of  America. 

The    Shakespearean   Casket. 

Unique  as  a  specimen  of  the  art  of  damascening  as  practiced  in  Eng- 
land is  the  Shakespearean  casket,  which  illustrates  in  gold  and  silver 
the  works  of  the  poet  and  playwright.  The  center  obverse  gives  the 
portrait  of  the  poet  and  playwright,  as  he  appears  in  the  bust  in  Strat- 
ford Church.  The  reverse  medallion  gives  a  view  in  gold  repousse  of 
Shakespeare's  birthplace.  The  principal  damascening  portrays  wreaths 
in  different  colors,  a  medallion,  escutcheon,  Tragedy,  Comedy,  hunting 
trophies,  bees,  anchors,  boat-hook  and  trident,  the  Caduceus,  scales  of 
Justice,  boar-horn  and  spear,  helmet  and  sword,  scroll  and  pen,  mace, 
fasces,  and  crown,  Cupid's  bow,  the  torch  of  Hymen,  the  nuptial  ring, 
the  scepter  and  sword  of  Justice,  fruit-laden  vase,  the  poisoned  bowl, 
hissing  snake,  cap  and  bells,  and  the  skull  and  crossbones  of  Death. 

There  are  on  the  body  of  the  casket  fine  enamel  paintings  of  scenes 


494  GREAT   BRITAIN   AND   COLONIES. 

from  a  "  Midsummer  Night's  Dream,"  "  The  Tempest,"  "  Two  Gentle- 
men of  Verona,"  "  King  Lear,"  and  "  Romeo  and  Juliet."  The  lower 
moldings  of  the  casket  illustrate  quotations  from  "  Measure  for  Measure," 
"  Comedy  of  Errors,"  "  Troilus  and  Cressida,"  "  Merchant  of  Venice," 
"  King  Henry  IV.,"  "  Timon  of  Athens,"  "  Twelfth  Night,"  "As  You 
Like  It/'  and  "  King  Henry  VI."  The  casket  stands  upon  four  feet  in 
gold  and  damascene,  and  is  surmounted  by  the  Shakespearean  crest,  the 
falcon  holding  the  tilting  spear  in  rest.  Its  value  is  $3,000. 

The  caskets  which  were  presented,  one  to  the  Emperor  of  Germay  in 

1891,  one  to  Gladstone  in  1881,  together  with  the  freedom  of  the  City  of 
London,  are  included  in  the  collection,  having  been  loaned  by  their 
owners.     Another  imposing  piece  of  plate  is  the  "  Waterloo  Cup  "  for 

1892,  shown  by  Mappin  Bros. 

To  women  who  visit  the  exhibit  nothing  will  so  appeal,  however,  as  a 
toilet  service,  including  forty-seven  pieces,  all  mounted  in  silver,  richly 
gilded.  Who  uses  this,  however,  must  have  a  substantial  bank  account 
at  her  disposal,  as  $3,000  is  its  value. 

Victoria   House. 

Victoria  House,  situated  on  the  nearest  point  of  land  at  Jackson  Park 
to  England,  as  if  the  gentlemen  who  represent  Great  Britain  desire  to 
keep  as  near  to  their  beloved  country  as  possible,  is  a  very  attractive 
building.  It  was  planned  for  the  use  of  the  royal  commissioners,  and 
for  this  work  the  British  government  selected  one  of  the  most  celebrated 
of  English  architects,  Colonel  Edis,  Twentieth  Middlesex  Artists. 

Colonel  Edis  drew  the  plans  for  Victoria  House  and  submitted 
them  to  the  queen,  and  after  her  approval  had  been  secured  they  were 
sent  on  and  the  building  constructed  in  accordance  with  them  by  a  force 
of  English  mechanics.  In  a  general  way  the  plan  of  the  structure  in- 
cludes the  arrangement  of  three  sides  of  a  quadrangle  for  the  purpose  of 
the  royal  commissioners  in  the  way  of  reception-rooms,  a  library,  morn- 
ing-room, etc.,  the  fourth  side  being  designed  for  offices. 

The  main  entrance  of  the  building  opens  into  a  large  hall,  from  which 
a  double  stair-case  leads  to  the  rooms  above.  At  either  end  of  this  hall 
there  is  a  fireplace  with  a  mantel  of  carved  oak,  with  numerous  places 
where  vases  and  bric-a-brac  can  be  displayed.  The  carving  of  these 
mantels  is  very  well  done,  and  in  speaking  of  their  utility  Colonel  Edis, 
who  by  the  way,  is  the  author  of  a  work  on  "  Furniture  and  Decoration 
of  Town  Houses,"  said  that  he  was  in  favor  of  making  each  feature  of  a 
house  as  nearly  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  people  who  were  to  occupy 
it  as  possible;  and  not  to  sacrifice  utility  for  beauty.  The  object  of  the 


406 


GREAT   BRITAIN   AND   COLONIES. 


arrangements  of  these  mantels  is  to  give  an  opportunity  for  the  display 
of  rare  bits  of  pottery,  etc.,  instead  of  cumbering  the  room  with  cases 
for  this  purpose. 

Fireplace  with  Oak  Mantel. 

To  the  left  of  the  main  hall  is  the  apartment  designed  for  the  use  of 
the  royal  commissioners  as  a  reception-room.     It  has  a  very  fine,  large 


ELIZABETHAN   FIREPLACE — VICTORIA   HOUSE. 

fireplace,  with  carved  oak  mantel,  over  which  is  the  inscription,  in  old 
English  characters  : 

"  Babble  not  o'er  much,  my  friend,  if  thou  wouldst  be  called  wise  ; 
To  speak  or  prate  or  use  much  talk  engenders  many  lies." 

"I  have  that  over  a  mantel  in  my  own  house  in  London,"  said  Col- 
onel Edis.  "  It  is  something  that  I  found  in  '  Barbee's  Book/  a  fifteenth 
century  publication,  recently  republished  by  the  Early  English  Text 
Society.  It  would  hardly  be  appropriate  to  place  over  the  mantel  of  a 
room  in  which  guests  were  to  be  entertained,  but  in  this  room,  destined 
as  a  meeting  place  for  the  commissioners,  it  seems  permissible."  The 
ceiling  of  this  room  is  copied  from  the  ceiling  of  the  now  almost  ruined 
Haddon  Hall,  Derbyshire.  Other  parts  are  modeled  after  famous 
parts  of  various  old  English  buildings,  mostly  of  the  Elizabethan  period. 


GREAT   BRITAIN   AND   COLONIES.  497 

The  library  is  a  handsome  room,  the  shelving  being  of  natural  oak. 
To  the  right  of  the  main  hall  there  is  a  room  in  which  the  walls  are  cov- 
ered with  bright-colored  stamped  leather.  This  is  used  as  a  general  pur- 
pose room,  and  has  in  it  some  fine  oak  furniture.  All  of  the  floors  are 
of  polished  oak  and  wainscoting  is  of  natural  oak,  no  other  wood  being 
used  in  the  construction. 

Scotch  Ladies   Prepare  an  Exhibit. 

The  women  of  Scotland  did  not  intend  to  be  eclipsed  by  their  sisters 
in  England  and  Ireland  in  making  an  exhibit  of  work  at  the  World's 
Fair.  A  collection  was  gathered  together  and  put  on  view  at  the  Im- 
perial Institute,  Glasgow.  The  women  of  Argyle  send  tartan  hose  and 
the  women  of  Aberdeen  exhibit  socks,  gloves,  stockings,  knitted  tartan 
gloves,  embroideries  designed  in  Turkish  patterns  and  embroidered  on 
white,  panels  in  blue  and  flame  color  silks  in  the  style  of  the  Turkish 
brocades  of  the  sixteenth  century. 

Among  the  antiquarian  treasures'  of  the  exhibit  is  an  embroidered 
cover  from  the  bed  of  Patrick,  Earl  of  Kinghorn,  dated  1660,  and  loaned 
by  the  Countess  of  Strathmore,  Glamis  Castle ;  a  portiere  loaned  by 
Lady  Aberdeen,  worked  about  1740  by  Anne,  Countess  of  Aberdeen, 
and  specimens  of  old  muslin  curtains.  The  Woman's  Printing  Society 
exhibit  a  number  of  beautiful  specimens  of  their  work.  The  more  mod- 
ern branches  of  woman's  work  are  shown  by  the  exhibition  of  black  and 
white  drawings  of  the  fashion  journals.  Wood  engraving  comes  from 
the  girls  instructed  in  the  technical  art  schools;  embroidered  book- 
covers  and  some  book-covers  delicately  painted  on  vellum,  specimens  of 
magnificently  embossed  leather  work,  etc.  The  ladies  who  were  par- 
ticularly instrumental  in  carrying  out  the  preparatory  work  of  collecting 
and  arranging  this  interesting  and  beautiful  display  are  the  Countess  of 
Aberdeen,  Lady  Scott,  the  Hon.  Mrs.  Vernon,  and  Lady  Alice  Leslie. 

_s 

Royal  Handiwork. 

American  ladies  who  devote  much  of  their  time  to  art  work  are  espe- 
cially pleased  to  learn  that  several  specimens  of  carving  done  by  the 
Princess  of  Wales  and  her  daughters  are  on  exhibition  at  the  Fair. 
Her  Royal  Highness  sent  to  Chicago  a  corner  chair  carved  in  stained 
walnut,  the  seat  being  of  leather  work  with  a  conventional  pattern  of 
flowers.  The  work  was  entirely  executed  by  her  Royal  Highness,  and 
is  very  skillfully  done.  Princess  Maud  of  Wales  sent  a  music  stool. 
The  framework  is  of  walnut  and  the  seat  is  a  pattern  of  sunflowers. 
Princess  Victoria  of  Wales  also  sent  a  music  stool  of  similar  wood,  but 
32 


498  GREAT   BRITAIN   AND   COLONIES. 

with  a   pattern  of  single   dahlias.     All   these   are  in   the  fashionable 
leather  work. 

The  British  pavilion  in  the  Manufactures  and  Liberal  Arts  Building 
is  an  exact  reproduction  in  English  oak  of  the  banqueting  hall  at  Hat- 
field  House,  the  historic  home  of  the  Cecils.  All  the  carvings  are  cut 
from  solid  oak — that  is  to  say,  each  figure  and  panel  of  which  a  casting 
was  taken  is  not  pieced,  but  produced  from  one  block.  By  a  process  of 
"£uming ''  the  rich,  deep  tone  of  antique  work  has  been  imparted  to  the 
carvings.  Perhaps  the  most  striking  feature  of  the  structure  is  the  Cecil 
coat  of  arms,  which  is  also  sculptured  out  of  the  solid.  In  order  to 
complete  the  ensemble,  the  commissioners  furnish  their  fac-simile  of  the 
banqueting-hall  with  chairs,  tables,  and  armor  of  the  Elizabethan  period, 
and  the  white  and  black  marble  floor,  which  in  the  original  adds  so  much 
to  the  effect  of  the  carved  walls  and  roof,  is  likewise  reproduced.  The 
entire  exhibit  is  well  worth  a  careful  inspection. 

Native  Products  of  Canada. 

The  selection  of  the  "various  objects  of  interest  from  Canada  was  made 
by  experts  appointed  especially  for  their  ability,  and  the  selection  and 
care  of  the  exhibits  cost  over  $250,000. 

The  list  is  comprehensive  and  embraces  all  the  domestic  animals, 
grain,  seeds,  roots,  fruit,  mineral,  timber,  wood,  manufactured  goods, 
fisheries  and  dairy  products.  Canada  makes  a  showing  in  every  large 
building  on  the  ground.  There  are  also  3,500  samples  of  grains, 
threshed  and  in  the  straw. 

The  mineral  exhibit  exceeded  125  tons  in  weight  and  embraces  every 
known  mineral,  marble  and  granite  in  the  province.  There  is  one  block 
of  pure  nickel  weighing  4,600  pounds,  and  twelve  cones  of  nickel  matt 
weighing  600  pounds  each,  and  one  sample  of  the  ore,  the  richest  ever 
yet  found,  weighing  ten  tons.  In  the  forestry  division  are  samples  of 
all  the  known  varieties  of  wood  that  grow  in  Canada.  Each  piece  is 
forty-two  inches  long  and  as  large  around  as  possible.  One  end  is  pol- 
ished to  show  the  grain,  and  each  section  has  a  companion  section 
squared,  polished  and  engraved,  showing  the  leaf  and  seed  of  the  variety. 
There  are  also  many  pieces  of  timber  prepared  by  the  Indians  without 
the  aid  of  a  saw  and  carved  with  a  common  pocket-knife.  This  Indian 
carving  is  most  complete,  one  piece  being  a  balcony,  belfry,  bell  and 
chain — all  carved  out  of  one  solid  block — the  work  of  ten  years.  Every 
article  is  marked  with  its  full  history. 

As  a  souvenir  the  commissioners  give  away  a  lithograph  of  the  Parlia- 
ment buildings  and  a  catalogue  of  the  exhibit.  Among  the  curious 


GREAT   BRITAIN   AND   COLONIES.  499 

things  are  the  first  piano  ever  brought  into  Canada   and  the  first  me- 
chanical device  for  grinding  grain,  a  small  hand  mill. 

Manitoba's  Exhibit. 

Respecting  this  exhibit  Hon.  James  A.  Sinart,  commissioner  from 
Manitoba,  said  :  "  Our  chief  aim  is  to  show  the  great  agricultural  re- 
sources of  Manitoba.  While  we  have  a  comparatively  newly  settled 
country,  with  a  population  of  175,000,  we  have  already  secured  great 
railway  facilities,  and  can  show  wonderful  development  in  the  produc- 
tion of  cereals  and  in  mixed  farming.  Our  exhibit  is,  of  course,  mainly 
in  grains  ;  but  we  also  have  a  nice  exhibit  in  natural  history,  including 
mounted  animals  and  birds  of  all  kinds  indigenous  to  the  northern 
country.  We  have  models  of  the  old-time  buildings  of  the  province 
which  was  the  historic  battle-ground  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  and 
the  Northwest  Company  ;  a  model  of  Fort  Garry  where  Scott  was  shot 
by  Kiel's  orders  in  the  rebellion  of  '69  and  '70  ;  a  model  of  Dr.  Barnar- 
do's  home  for  destitute  children,  at  Brinscarth ;  and  models  of  our  great 
farms. 

"  Our  chief  product  so  far  has  been  wheat.  For  this  cereal  Manitoba 
has  on  more  than  one  occasion  taken  high  honors  in  European  exhibits. 
In  the  centre  of  our  building  is  erected  an  agricultural  trophy.  The 
Historical  Society  of  Winnipeg  makes  an  interesting  display  of  relics, 
and  we  also  have  a  good  illustration  of  our  excellent  school  system 
which  will  compare  favorably  with  older  communities.  In  our  popula- 
tion of  175,000  which  is  mostly  from  Eastern  Canada  and  Great  Britain, 
we  have  12,000  Icelanders,  who  are  excellent  people,  and  a  large  and 
flourishing  colony  of  Mennonites." 

From  New  South  Wales. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  displays  seen  within  the  great  structure 
devoted  to  Mines  and  Mining  is  that  prepared  by  the  representatives  of 
New  South  Wales.  And  those  who  have  not  made  a  study  of  the 
mineral  resources  of  that  colony  are  surprised  at  the  comprehensiveness 
of  the  exhibit.  The  work  of  installation  was'  superintended  by  J.  E. 
Carne,  of  the  Department  of  Mines,  of  Sydney.  Speaking  of  the  dis- 
play Mr.  Carne  said  : 

"  It  will  undoubtedly,  surprise  the  American  public  to  learn  that  in 
point  of  value  gold  does  not  rank  first  among  the  minerals  of  New 
South  Wales.  Coal  is  made  a  feature  of  this  exhibit,  and  it  deserves 
the  honor  because  it  is  our  most  valuable  mineral.  The  order  of  the 
output  of  the  minerals  of  the  colony  is  coal,  gold,  tin,  and  copper. 


500  GREAT   BRITAIN   AND   COLONIES. 

"  As  a  whole  this  exhibit  may  be  said  to  be  a  heroic  display  of  base 
metals.  Along  the  front  line  are  massive  trophies  of  silver  ore,  tin, 
copper,  and  antimony.  One  particularly  interesting  feature  is  the  silver 
monument  which  is  erected  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the  exhibit  space. 
It  represents  one-sixth  of  the  entire  output  of  the  great  Broken  Hill 
mine,  which  from  May,  1886,  to  May,  1892,  produced  36,500,000 
ounces  of  silver  and  156,000  tons  of  lead. 

"  In  the  rear  there  is  a  triple  arch,  with  two  centre  pillars  of  coal  and 
two  outer  pillars  of  petroleum  oil  coal,  which  is  locally  known  as  kero- 
sene shale.  These  pillars  are  four  feet  square  and  eleven  feet  high. 
Behind  this  feature  full  sections  of  principal  coal  scenes  are  shown. 

"  That  portion  of  the  display  first  seen  by  the  visitors  is  made  up  of 
bulk  trophies  of  gold,  silver,  copper,  tin,  antimony,  iron,  manganese  and 
chrome  and  building  stone.  These  are  made  as  attractive  as  possible. 
Then  there  are  show  cases  containing  collections  of  all  metallic  and 
non-metallic  minerals.  In  these  collections  are  some  of  the  most  valu- 
able specimens  ever  discovered.  Quartz  and  placer  gold  and  gems  are 
displayed  as  a  distinct  feature.  And  then  there  are  collections  of  fossils 
from  the  principal  sedimentary  formation.  These  are  accompanied  by 
geological  maps  that  give  one  a  comprehensive  understanding  of  the 
physical  formation  of  the  colony." 

"  The  Welcome  Stranger  "  is  a  nugget  of  gold  weighing  3,040  ounces, 
found  in  1869.  It  is  the  central  feature  of  the  exhibit  of  which  it  is  a 
part,  and  while  on  exhibition  is  guarded  by  a  force  of  detectives  specially 
detailed  for  the  purpose.  As  there  is  no  extra  fee  charged  for  a  peep  at 
the  antipodal  beauty  few  people  visit  the  Exposition  and  go  away  with- 
out having  seen  it. 

East  Indian  Pavilion. 

Queen  Victoria's  Asiatic  domain,  the  Empire  of  India,  is  represented 
at  the  Fair  with  a  comprehensive  exhibit  which  is  housed  in  a  special 
building  of  distinctively  eastern  architecture. 

The  general  effect  of  the  whole  interior  is  harmonious.  The  delicate 
pinks,  pale  greens,  and  dull  reds  melt  and  blend  in  low-toned  pictures, 
in  which  there  is  not  a  single  garish  effect.  The  gleam  from  half-hidden 
marble  and  the  glitter  of  brass  vases  and  bowls  lend  a  touch  of  brilliancy 
to  the  subdued  Oriental  coloring.  The  ceiling  is  covered  with  speci- 
mens of  elaborately  designed  wool  and  silk  carpets,  colored  in  the  soft 
shades  that  only  vegetable  dye  can  give.  In  short,  there  is  not  a  nook 
or  cranny  of  the  room  that  is  not  piled  up  with  objects  that  set  the 
connoisseurs  agog. 


GREAT   BRITAIN   AND   COLONIES. 


501 


The  first  object  to  attract  attention  is  an  elaborately  carved  colored 
marble  shrine  or  temple.     It  stands  in  the  center  of  the  lower  floor,  is 


gSi,  / 

/  ' 


CENTRAL   COURT   OF   EAST    INDIAN    PAVILION. 

about  six  feet  high  and  four  feet  broad.  Shrines  of  this  description  are 
set  up  in  India  at  street  corners,  by  the  wayside,  and  at  cross-roads. 
This  particular  shrine  is  empty.  They  usually  contain  an  image  of  one 


502  GREAT   BRITAIN  AND   COLONIES. 

of  the  Hindoo  triad.  Squatting  on  the  floor  to  the  right  and  left  of  this 
shrine  are  two  figures  of  Buddha  or  Gautama.  He  is  represented  in 
the  conventional  attitude  of  contemplation.  The  hood  screening  the 
white  image  on  the  left  is  the  head  of  the  King  Cobra  that  screened 
Gautama  from  the  rays  of  the  sun.  These  reptiles  are  prominent  in 
every  decoration.  They  are  sacred  in  the  eyes  of  a  Hindoo  and  must 
not  be  killed  on  any  pretense. 

Hideous  Indian  Fakirs. 

The  hideous  emaciated  figures  on  brackets  at  the  corners  of  the  gal- 
lery are  wonderfully  life-like  papier-mache  representations  of  Indian 
religious  mendicants.  One  can  almost  imagine  the  figures  breathe,  and 
that  the  glassy  eyes  can  see — -so  true  are  they  in  coloring  and  features 
to  the  fakirs  that  line  the  streets  of  Calcutta.  Early  in  life  these  men- 
dicants take  up  a  cramped  position  and  maintain  it  for  years  until  their 
joints  have  grown  together  and  are  absolutely  incapable  of  motion. 

There  is  a  complete  collection  of  the  handiwork  of  the  Indian  armor- 
ers— targets,  battle-axes,  swords,  and  knives.  Each  nation  of  India  has 
its  own  peculiar  fashion  in  arms  and  armor,  and  the  styles  are  continu- 
ally changing.  In  one  corner  is  a  curious  old  iron  cannon  which  has  a 
remarkable  breech.  This  gun  is  contemporaneous  with  the  discovery 
of  America,  and  would  present  a  most  comical  contrast  alongside  the 
famous  Krupp  of  1893.  It  was  made  about  the  same  time  that  Leon- 
ardo da  Vinci  in  Italy  devised  the  principle  of  the  breech-loader,  but 
his  plans  were  never  put  into  execution,  so  that  the  Indians  antedate  the 
Europeans  in  the  chief  weapon  of  modern  warfare  by  three  or  four  cen- 
turies. 

Table  tops,  trays,  boxes,  plaques  and  paper-weights  of  marble  inlaid 
with  semi-precious  stones,  such  as  lapis-lazuli,  jasper  and  carnelian,  are 
arranged  in  the  gallery.  The  exhibit  of  metal  ware  demonstrates  the 
immense  superiority  of  hand  work  over  the  work  of  the  best  constructed 
machines.  Metal  vessels  take  the  place  in  India  of  the  porcelain  and 
glassware  used  by  the  western  nations.  There  are  shown  toilet  sets, 
vases,  lampstands  and  smoking  sets  made  for  every-day  use  in  India 
which  equal  or  surpass  in  design  and  execution  the  things  which  we 
turn  out  for  decorative  purposes. 

Engraved  with  Curious   Figures. 

The  incrusted  metal  ware  from  Tanjore  is  the  finest  in  the  whole  dis- 
play. The  metal  ground  is  an  alloy  of  copper,  lead  and  tin,  blackened 
by  being  submitted  to  some  chemical  process.  The  metal  is  shaped  in 


GREAT   BRITAIN   AND   COLONIES.  503 

a  lathe,  the  pattern  is  graven  upon  it,  and  this  is  then  inlaid  with  silver. 
Trays,  bowls,  lampstands  and  other  articles  of  domestic  use  are  shown 
in  this  incrusted  ware  engraved  with  mythologic  figures.  A  diapered 
leaf  pattern  in  silver  fills  in  the  space  between  the  designs  and  gives  to 
the  whole  a  remarkably  rich  effect. 

Tusks  of  ivory  carved  in  intricate  lace  patterns  are  beautiful  to  behold, 
but  one  can  scarcely  believe  that  the  minute  figures  which  can  be  seen 
within  the  network  have  been  carved  through  the  interstices  of  the  lace 
work  from  the  original  tusk.  The  story  of  marvelous  patience  dumbly 
told  by  these  wonderful  pieces  of  carving  is  almost  pathetic.  Each 
lineament  of  the  faces  of  the  minute  figures  is  distinct  and  clear.  Each 
piece  of  ivory  is  a  picture  story.  A  long-bladed  paper-cutter,  the  entire 
length  of  which  is  carved  in  delicate  lace  work,  looks  frail  enough  to 
break  at  a  touch,  but  is  firm  and  unbending. 

The  whole  floor  of  the  India  House  is  filled  with  dainty  little  tea 
tables,  with  two  or  three  chairs  around  each.  There  any  one  who  has 
a  tired  feeling  can  sit  down  and  order  a  cup  of  tea,  with  cream  and  loaf 
sugar  to  boot,  without  a  cent  to  pay. 

Hindoos  in  Native  Dress. 

These  tea  men  themselves  are  an  attraction,  as  they  are  natives  of 
India,  of  the  servant  or  lowest  caste,  and  are  dressed  in  brilliant  scarlet 
robes,  with  gold  embroidery.  Still  more  interesting,  however,  are  the 
assistants  of  the  exhibitor  who  occupies  the  upper  floor  of  the  building 
with  a  most  wonderful  exhibit  of  the  art  manufactures  of  India. 
Beginning  at  the  bottom,  socially,  one  of  these  is  a  Hindoostanee,  of 
the  servant  class,  who  is  a  convert  to  Christianity  and  bears  the  Christian 
name  of  Sam.  One  of  them  is  a  Mohammedan  from  Bombay.  Then 
there  is  another,  of  the  writing  caste,  from  Benares,  the  Rome  of  India, 
whose  name  is  Rameshwar  Dial. 

Coming  higher  up  there  is  a  rajpoot  of  the  warrior  caste  from  Raj- 
pootana,  who  is  wrapped  from  head  to  foot  in  variegated  silks  and  nurses 
all  the  while  an  old  rifle  ten  feet  long  that  would  probably  burst  the  first 
time  it  was  fired.  Then  there  are  two  others  of  the  warrior  caste,  called 
Khatrees,  from  the  Punjaub  or  Five  Rivers.  Finally,  there  is  nothing 
less  than  a  live  Brahmin  and  Pundit  from  Delhi,  said  to  be  the  only 
Brahmin  that  ever  came  to  America.  His  name  is  Gobindpurshad 
Shookul,  but  he  hardly  expects  you  to  call  him  by  name. 

In  the  British  Guiana  Court  at  the  Fair,  timber  and  other  products  of 
that  country  are  displayed  on  a  scale  and  in  a  manner  commensurate 
with  the  importance  of  the  natural  resources  of  the  country.  There  is 


504 


GREAT   BRITAIN   AND   COLONIES. 


a  very  creditable  showing  of  manufactured  articles,  illustrative  of  the 
suitability  of  some  of  the  woods  of  British  Guiana  for  cabinet  making 
and  other  useful  purposes,  and  as  much  as  possible  is  made  of  the  gold 
industry  of  this  section  of  the  world.  Specimens  of  gold  bearing  quartz, 
worked  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  are  shown  in  neat  wooden  cases, 
and  samples  of  raw  gold  and  quartz  rock  are  included  in  the  Colonial 
exhibit.  Some  handsomely  carved  panels  three  and  one-half  feet  in 


BRITISH  GUIANA'S  EXHIBIT. 

width  by  nine  feet  in  length  were  sent  to  show  the  working  qualities  of 
the  principal  furniture  woods.  Among  the  articles  is  an  interesting 
model  showing  the  Chinese  style  of  charcoal  kiln  as  used  in  charcoal 
burning  up  the  Demarara  River,  together  with  a  model  of  the  "  rice 
husker  "  worked  by  the  Celestials  who  have  colonized  in  that  country. 

An  Arrawac  Indian,  whose  face  is  not  red  but  brown,  but  who  has  the 
straight,  coarse,  black  hair  of  the  North  American  Indian,  accompanies 
the  exhibit.  Huts,  such  as  the  natives  live  in,  show  the  household  life 
in  this  part  of  Victoria's  domains. 

The  Cape  Colonies. 

The  Cape  Colonies  of  Africa  made  great  efforts  for  a  good  represen- 
tation at  the  Fair,  and  as  their  location  and  surroundings  yield  many 
novel  and  strange  things,  their  exhibits  prove  most  interesting.  Not  the 


GREAT   BRITAIN   AND   COLONIES.  505 

least  interesting  is  a  collection  of  stuffed  animals  and  birds.  The  skins 
were  prepared  in  New  York  for  mounting.  No  fierce  beasts  are  repre- 
sented, as  the  exhibit  shows  only  those  animals  which  have  been  made 
useful.  The  most  curious  group  consists  of  two  old  ostriches  and  four 
young  ones.  The  young  birds  are  most  grotesque  objects.  They  are 
about  as  large  as  a  full-sized  chicken  and  look  much  as  one  of  those 
fowls  would  look  after  a  bath  in  hot  water.  The  two  old  ostriches  are 
remarkably  large,  their  thighs  being  as  big  around  as  those  of  a  man. 
Three  groups  of  the  "fat-tailed  "  sheep  are  shown,  two  groups  consist- 
ing of  male  and  female  and  the  third  of  male  and  female  and  young. 

The  tails  of  these  animals  are  remarkable,  weighing  from  two  to  four 
pounds  each.  A  few  of  these  sheep  were  imported  by  the  Agricultural 
Department  and  are  doing  well  in  the  West.  A  remarkable  animal 
shown  is  the  Cape  goat.  This  is  exactly  like  the  great  American  ani- 
mal, except  in  size.  The  African  is  four  feet  high  and  correspondingly 
huge  in  other  dimensions.  An  exceptionally  fine  Angora  goat  is  in  the 
collection.  Another  handsome  animal  is  a  small  gazelle.  There  are 
more  than  1 50  birds  in  one  group. 

The  Island  of  Ceylon  is  also  represented.  The  tea  planters  contrib- 
uted about  $500,000  for  the  Fair,  and  they  make  a  big  display  with 
their  lakeside  pavilion  and  tea  house  in  the  Agricultural  Building.  The 
official  pavilion  at  the  lake  is  a  reproduction  in  ebony,  sandal  and  yak 
woods  of  a  famous  Ceylon  temple.  The  timbers,  carved  at  the  ends  in 
semblance  of  elephants  or  dragons'  heads,  are  very  heavy.  The  swarthy 
figures  of  these  rugged  Ceylonese  harmonize  interestingly  with  the  ma- 
terials of  which  the  pavilion  is  built.  They  match  the  ebony  and  the 
yak  wood. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 
Attractive  Exhibits  from  Germany  and  Belgium. 

NEVER   since   the   first   great   World's    Fair   was   opened   in 
London,  nearly  Haifa  century  ago,  have  the  German  people 
taken  so  lively  an  interest  in  an  affair  of  the  kind  as  they 
have  exhibited  in  the  Columbian  Exposition.     As  a  nation 
they  make  displays  in  every  department  at  the  Fair,  and  in  addition  the 
merchants   and   manufacturers    make   distinct    exhibits   that   compare 
favorably  with  those  prepared  by  their  business  rivals  of  other  European 
countries.     Germany's  exhibit  is  the  pride  of  all  who  claim  allegiance 
to  that  country  or  whose  ancestors  came  from  that  political  division  of 
Europe.     The  German  Building   overlooking   Lake    Michigan    is   the 
showiest  of  all  the  foreign  buildings. 

-  At  the  intersection  of  Columbia  avenue  and  the  main  avenue  running 
east  and  west,  in  Manufactures  Building,  under  the  shadow  of  the  clock 
tower,  which  occupies  the  central  spot  in  the  largest  building  at  the 
grounds,  Germany  has  made  its  exhibit  of  manufactured  articles.  The 
pride  of  the  German  exhibit  in  the  Hall  of  Manufactures  and  Liberal 
Arts  is  the  open  court-yard  fronting  on  Columbia  avenue,  where  is 
shown  the  handiwork  of  the  German  gold  and  silversmiths  and  the 
porcelain  art  work,  in  which  the  artists  of  the  German  Empire  excel 
the  workmen  of  all  other  countries. 

Wonders  in  Wrought  Iron. 

Armbruster  Bros.,  of  Frankfort-on-the-Main,  furnish  for  the  exhibit 
the  beautiful  wrought  iron  fence  which  separates  this  section  of  the 
exhibit  from  Columbia  avenue.  The  style  of  the  work  is  highly 
ornamental  and  the  central  one  of  the  three  gates  is  the  largest  piece  of 
wrought  iron  art  work  ever  made.  It  stands  forty  feet  high  and  is 
twenty-two  feet  in  width,  and  the  gates  alone  weigh  eighteen  tons, 
exclusive  of  the  elaborate  posts  and  surmounting  top  piece.  The  side 
gates  are  30  feet  high  and  15  feet  wide,  and  each  pair  weighs  thirteen 
tons.  The  iron  was  hammered  and  wrought  from  crude  bars  entirely 
by  hand-work.  The  fence  complete  represents  the  work  of  150  of  the 
firm's  most  skilled  workmen  for  a  total  period  of  almost  six  months. 
Fruit  and  flowers  and  delicate  leaves  have  been  hammered  from  the  iron 
506 


ATTRACTIVE   EXHIBITS   FROM   GERMANY  AND   BELGIUM.  507 

until  they  look  to  be  the  work  of  a  skillful  goldsmith,  instead  of  the 
brawny  wielders  of  sledge  hammers  over  huge  anvils. 

The  central  gate  is  the  principal  feature  of  this  exhibit.  Huge  bars 
extend  from  the  top  to  the  bottom,  filled  in  between  with  delicate 
tracery  work,  and  the  top  and  bottom  are  each  marked  by  moldings  in 
keeping  with  the  whole.  Towering  high  above  the  top  piece  is  a  basket 
of  flowers,  hammered  out  of  iron,  and  looking  as  life-like,  save  for  the 
color,  as  would  a  basket  of  wax  fruit  or  flowers.  The  total  length  of 
the  fence  is  161  feet.  After  its  completion  it  was  set  up  both  in  Frank- 
fort and  Berlin,  and  the  news  of  its  excellence  brought  thousands  to 
view  it.  The  Emperor  himself  paid  it  a  visit  and  expressed  his  admira- 
tion of  its  workmanship  in  unmeasured  terms  of  praise. 

By  Jewelers  of  Baden. 

Baden  makes  an  exhibit  at  the  north  end  of  the  inclosure.  There  are 
three  artistic  iron  gates,  which  serve  as  a  background,  the  central  one  of 
which  stands  twenty  feet  high,  and  has  beneath  its  ornamental  top  piece 
the  word  "  Baden,"  wrought  in  iron.  The  work  of  the  jewelers  of 
Baden  is  shown  in  cases  directly  in  front  of  this.  These  gates  are  the 
work  of  Bieler,  of  Offenburg,  Baden.  The  Bavarian  countries  have  con- 
tributed three  more  ornamental  wrought  iron  gates  for  the  south  end 
of  the  inclosure. 

The  German  exhibit  covers  three  blocks  of  space,  the  first  containing 
the  great  iron  gates  and  the  Bavarian  pavilion,  fronting  on  Columbia 
avenue,  and  the  second  and  third  to  the  west  of  the  first.  The  Bavarian 
Art  Industry  Society's  exhibit  is  not  entirely  confined  to  the  Bavarian 
pavilion,  but  also  occupies  several  elegant  stalls  on  the  east  front  of  the 
second  block.  These  stalls,  decorated  and  furnished  in  a  char- 
acteristic style,  relate  to  different  ages  or  phases  of  German  life.  Com- 
mencing near  the  Bavarian  pavilion,  and  walking  north,  one  comes  first 
to  a  reception  room,  and  then  to  a  sitting-room.  Then  comes  a  German 
hunters'  room  of  the  olden  time,  which  is  a  real  curiosity.  Around  the 
walls  at  intervals  are  antlers  and  stuffed  birds.  In  the  center  is  a  mas- 
sive oaken  table  surrounded  by  leather-seated  chairs.  On  the  shelves 
are  quaint  old  beer-mugs  and  tankards.  In  a  prominent  place  hangs  the 
hunter's  brass  horn,  from  which  one  almost  expects  to  hear  a  blast  as 
he  looks  at  it.  In  the  bookcase  are  old  books  in  parchment  bindings, 
that  look  as  if  they  might  have  belonged  to  Martin  Luther. 

The  finest  of  these  rooms  is  the  German  renaissance  dining-room. 
The  furniture  consists  of  side-boards  and  cabinets,  elaborately  carved  in 
old  oak,  bronze  busts,  tall  quaint  old  clocks,  solid  oak  chairs  and  tables, 


508 


ATTRACTIVE   EXHIBITS    FROM   GERMANY  AND    BELGIUM. 


curtains  and  tablecloths  of  green  velvet,  heavy  with  the  richest  gold  em- 
broidery, and  wainscoting,  of  pressed  and  gilded  leather.  In  the  middle 
stand  a  small  table  and  a  few  seats.  The  whole  resembles  somewhat  a 


GERMANY  S    BUILDING. 

scene  in  a  church,  and  conveys  a  vivid  idea  of  the  old-time  German 
people  and  their  ideas  of  splendor  and  luxury. 

Old-Fashioned  German  Stoves. 

Passing  around  the  north  end  of  this  block,  and  walking  south,  a 
person  comes  to  some  exhibits  of  wonderful  interest  and  beauty.  The 
first  is  a  collection  of  old-fashioned  German  wood  stoves.  This  strange 
article  is  made  of  earthenware  or  porcelain,  as  the  case  may  be.  Each 
stove  is  ten  or  fifteen  feet  high,  with  folding  doors  to  the  grate,  and 
decorated  in  the  highest  style  of  art.  One  can  only  compare  it  to  a 
church-altar  in  pottery  or  porcelain. 

Next  comes  an  extensive  exhibit  of  cooking  ranges  by  H.  Koloseus 
of  Aschaffenburg.  They  are  6  by  13  feet  in  size,  faced  all  around  with 
beautiful  tiling  and  mounted  with  polished  steel  and  brass.  Next  to 
them  is  a  splendid  display  of  bronzes  by  A.  Stiibbe  of  Berlin.  The 
block  ends  with  an  exhibit  of  embossed  and  decorated  leather  by  George 
Hulbe  of  Berlin  and  Hamburg,  to  see  which  is  worth  a  day's  journey. 
The  articles  include  chairs,  screens,  shields,  book-backs,  waste-paper 
boxes,  and  umbrella  racks.  The  work  is  raised,  colored,  bronzed, 
gilded,  and  figured,  and  many  of  the  pieces  are  intended  to  be  merely 


ATTRACTIVE   EXHIBITS   FROM   GERMANY  AND   BELGIUM.  509 

decorative.     Of  its  richness  and  beauty  no  one  can  form  the  least  idea 
without  seeing  it. 

An  ox  hide,  tanned  with  the  hair  and  horns,  is  hung  on  the  wall  to 
indicate  the  material  used ;  and  a  German  woman  in  attendance  lets  no 
visitor  escape  without  explaining  to  him  that  these  forms  of  beauty  are 
not  produced  by  any  stamping  process,  but  by  laborious  handwork. 
She  produces  a  piece  that  is  not  finished  and  shows  how  the  figures  are 
cut  into  the  leather  with  sharp  instruments  instead  of  being  stamped  in 
with  a  die ;  and  yet  on  this  leather  surface  are  produced  such  designs 
as  the  caravels  of  Columbus,  and  even  a  lilac  bush  in  full  bloom,  with 
coloring  as  fresh  and  perfect  as  if  they  had  been  painted  on  canvas. 

In  the  Cutlery  Booths. 

The  third  block  of  the  German  exhibit  contains  more  splendid  exhibits 
than  both  of  the  others  put  together.  The  first  of  these  exhibits  is  that 
of  the  great  cutler,  J.  A.  Henkel,  at  Solingen.  Forty  feet  of  upright 
showcases,  with  plate-glass  doors,  are  filled  with  his  table,  pocket,  and 
surgical  cutlery.  Lying  down  in  the  front  of  this  showcase  is  a  mag- 
nificent pair  of  lady's  scissors.  The  blades  reflect  everything  about 
them  like  mirrors,  and  the  handles  appear  to  be  of  gold  exquisitely 
chased.  Crowds  of  ladies  bend  over  them,  and  gaze  wistfully  at  them  ; 
and  yet  they  will  probably  never  find  a  purchaser,  as  they  are  six  feet 
long  and  weigh  200  pounds.  Other  familiar  articles  of  cutlery  in  the 
same  neighborhood  are  on  the  same  immense  scale.  There  are  carving 
knives  and  forks,  of  perfect  finish  in  every  way,  that  are  four  feet  long, 
and  that  would  be  a  good  load  for  a  man ;  and  numerous  butchers'  knives 
and  kitchen  knives  are  just  as  large.  But  all  of  them  are  as  elegant  in 
every  respect  as  those  of  smaller  size. 

The  next  exhibit  is  equally  interesting  for  its  intrinsic  merit  and  on 
account  of  the  exhibiter,  Prince  Stolberg,  who  is  one  of  the  hunting 
associates  and  boon  companions  of  the  German  Emperor.  The  exhibit 
consists  of  decorative  ironwork  from  the  Prince's  immense  works  at 
Ilsenberg,  in  the  Hartz  Mountains.  The  articles  are  antique  shields, 
breastplates,  helmets,  swords,  battle  axes,  and  spears,  and  then  a  line  of 
more  peaceable  articles,  such  as  tables,  screens,  and  cigar  cases. 

Picture  made  of  Needles. 

The  next  attraction  is  a  needle  exhibit  by  Funker  Bros,  of  Sachen ; 
mainly  noticeable  for  a  large  picture  of  a  steamer  on  a  rough  sea,  all 
done  in  needles,  which  are  skillfully  made  to  resemble  the  sheen  of  the 
water.  Next  to  that  comes  a  display  of  perfumery  and  toilet  soap  by 


510  ATTRACTIVE   EXHIBITS   FROM   GERMANY  AND   BELGIUM. 

William  Rieger  of  Frankfort.  Then  there  is  a  rare  exhibit  of  "hammered 
copper  goods  by  Peter  Seitz  of  Munich,  consisting  of  vases,  chandeliers, 
lanterns,  crucifixes,  champagne-coolers,  and  what  not.  Immense  vases 
four  feet  high  and  three  feet  wide,  graceful  in  shape  and  elaborately 
chased  and  decorated,  are  shown,  which  have  been  hammered  out  of  a 
single  piece  of  copper  at  a  cost  of  $500. 

The  next  exhibit  is  that  of  the  Gaggenan  Iron  works,  the  specialty 
of  which  is  a  patent  process  for  a  permanent  and  artistic  enameling  of 
iron.  The  articles  exhibited  include  vases,  consol-tables,  card-tables, 
decorative  shields,  flower-stands,  alcohol  lamps,  match-safes,  vases,  ink- 
stands and  a  whole  line  of  kitchen  and  dining-room  ware.  These  ar- 
ticles are  made  of  iron  and  yet  exquisitely  painted,  so  as  to  resemble 
the  finest  earthenware.  So  handsome  are  some  of  the  designs,  and  so 
elegant  the  workmanship  that  one  forgets  that  it  is  ironware.  At  the 
immense  works  of  the  company,  of  which  a  large  painting  is  displayed, 
1,200  workmen  are  employed,  while  the  work  is  protected  by  at  least 
loo  patents. 

To  describe  the  work  of  the  porcelain  paintings  is  in  itself  a  review  of 
Germany's  best  work  in  this  line.  The  work  which  is  in  the  nature  of 
a  decoration  for  the  artistic  whole  is  the  porcelain  exhibit  of  the  German 
section.  Not  all  the  work  is  by  Professor  Kips,  who  painted  the  prin- 
cipal one,  but  he  superintended  in  person  the  work  of  arranging  the  ex- 
hibit and  the  putting  of  the  finishing  touches  to  the  labors  of  carpenters 
and  artists. 

Painting  of  Porcelain  Tiles. 

The  main  painting  on  porcelain  tiles  is  the  object  which  attracts  the 
greatest  amount  of  attention  from  the  visitors  once  they  have  entered  the 
massive  gates.  It  represents  Germania  among  the  great  men  who  have 
made  names  for  themselves  in  the  world's  history  through  their  excel- 
lence in  the  various  arts.  The  scene  is  laid  on  the  River  Rhine,  the  great 
artery  for  commerce  of  inland  Germany.  In  the  middle  foreground  is 
Father  Rhine,  who  sits  in  a  boat  and  holds  an  oar  in  his  hands.  To  the 
left  is  the  figure  of  a  woman  to  represent  the  River  Mosel,  one  of  the 
principal  tributaries  to  the  Rhine.  Commerce  and  agriculture  are  re- 
presented by  the  figures  of  two  ideal  men,  one  bearing  a  wine  cask  and 
the  other  a  pair  of  oars. 

The  female  figure  Germania  is  the  central  figure  in  the  whole  picture. 
The  figure  is  of  heroic  size,  and  standing  on  a  bank  of  fleecy  clouds  she 
extends  her  hands  in  praise  and  benediction  over  the  group  of  figures. 
On  her  right  hand  are  the  female  figures,  art  and  industry.  Above  them 


ATTRACTIVE   EXHIBITS   FROM   GERMANY  AND   BELGIUM.  511 

are  winged  angels  to  represent  the  three  principal  divisions :  Bavaria> 
Prussia,  and  Baden.  Among  the  figures  of  German  celebrities  are  Gut- 
enberg, who  discovered  the  art  of  printing,  and  Gerhard  von  Riehl,  the 
architect  of  the  lofty  spires  of  the  famous  cathedral  of  Cologne,  which 
serves  as  a  background  for  the  completed  picture. 

The  coloring  of  this  work  is  the  remarkable  feature  of  it.  The  flesh 
tints  are  almost  human  and  the  figure  work  is  claimed  by  artists  who 
have  viewed  it  to  be  a  perfect  masterpiece  of  the  painters'  art.  Professor 
Kips  has  seen  personally  to  its  mounting,  and  thanks  to  careful  packing 
it  stood  the  passage  from  Germany  unhurt  by  so  much  as  a  scratch. 

A  plaque  of  porcelain  tile  work  flanks  this  big  work  on  either  side. 
These  represent  the  implements  of  medieval  warfare  bound  together  in 
peaceful  companionship  by  silken  ribbons,  the  ends  of  which  are  held 
by  smiling  cupids. 

Curious   Works  of  Art. 

Four  curiously  twisted  Saracen  pillars  of  porcelain  support  the  half 
roof  of  the  portico.  These  are  works  of  art  also,  and  there  is  still  an- 
other at  either  end  of  the  portico  as  supports  for  the  classic  roof.  The 
main  portion  of  this  portico  is  of  plaster  of  paris,  imitating  white  marble. 
Winding  stairways  with  wrought  iron  balustrades  lead  up  to  this  and 
make  a  pretty  foreground  for  the  bronze  fountain  between  the  two.  A 
pretty  feature  of  this  porcelain  exhibit  are  two  small  rooms  immediately 
behind  the  tile  painting.  One  of  these  is  a  bath  room  with  porcelain 
tub,  porcelain  tiling,  ceiling,  and  floor,  all  in  pure  white.  The  other 
one  is  a  dining  room,  furnished  entirely  in  porcelain,  and  with  the 
table  spread  and  set  with  the  best  examples  of  porcelain  art  work. 

The  alcove  to  the  north  has  for  a  centerpiece  a  mirror  with  a  curiously 
wrought  porcelain  frame  in  delicate  coloring.  This  is  surmounted  by  a 
porcelain  plaque  of  Emperor  Frederick.  The  corresponding  room  on 
the  south,  similar  in  design,  has,  instead  of  the  porcelain  framed  mirror, 
a  large  porcelain  mantelpiece.  Two  figures,  male  and  female,  almost 
life-size,  form  the  two  sides  of  the  mantel,  and  above  them,  and  serving 
as  a  keystone  for  the  arch,  is  a  medallion  supported  by  cupids.  There 
are  four  porcelain  plaques  in  the  two  rooms,  representing  spring,  sum- 
mer, autumn,  and  winter,  and  underneath  each  are  silken  curtains  of 
German  manufacture. 

Bavaria's  Exhibit  of  Antiques. 

An  integral  portion  of  the  German  pavilion  is  the  smaller  Bavarian 
pavilion  on  the  south  front  of  the  German  space.  This  pavilion  is 


512  ATTRACTIVE  EXHIBITS   FROM   GERMANY  AND   BELGIUM. 

crowded  all  the  time.  The  reason  is  that  even  when  seen  from  a  dis- 
tance it  presents  an  appearance  of  splendor.  The  interior  consists  of 
three  rooms.  They  are  designed  as  an  exhibit  of  Professor  Seidl's 
artistic  antiques,  and  for  this  purpose  the  east  room  is  conceived  as  a 
German  dining-room  of  the  renaissance  period,  the  middle  room  as  a 
palatial  presentation-room,  and  the  east  room  as  a  royal  boudoir.  Every- 
thing in  them  is  in  keeping  with  this  idea,  except  the  flooring,  which,  in 
view  of  the  incessant  tramping  of  the  multitude,  is  necessarily  covered 
with  coarse  matting. 

The  German  dining-room  is  more  curious  than  pleasing.  The  quaint 
.paneled  and  variegated  ceiling  could  hardly  be  called  beautiful,  and  the 
walls  are  draped  in  brown  velvet  tapestry,  relieved  at  intervals  by  ver- 
tical widths  of  light-colored  cloth  richly  embroidered,  the  whole  pro- 
ducing an  unpleasant  gloom.  On  one  side  of  the  room  is  an  immense 
sideboard  with  glass  doors,  containing  articles  of  glassware  in  rainbow 
glass.  On  an  antique  centre-table  is  a  jewelry-box  of  hammered  iron 
and  a  quaint  beer  tankard  three  feet  high.  Scattered  around  are  chairs 
and  cabinets  which  300  years  ago  were  fit  for  kings. 

Of  Historic  Interest. 

On  the  west  wall  hangs  a  large  shield  of  silver,  copper  and  painted 
enamel,  presented  to  Prince  Bismarck  and  loaned  by  him  for  this  occa- 
sion. On  a  center-table  is  a  huge  album  bound  in  blue  velvet  and 
trimmed  with  gold,  which  was  presented  to  the  Emperor  William  II. 
by  the  City  of  Munich,  and  is  filled  with  hundreds  of  autographs  of  its 
leading  citizens  and  officials.  Alongside  this,  in  an  elaborate  case,  is  a 
field  marshal's  baton,  presented  to  Von  Moltke  by  the  City  of  Coin. 
These  last  three  articles  are  in  the  presentation-room,  however,  only 
temporarily.  On  one  of  the  cabinets  is  an  ornamented  piece  of  bronze 
and  gold  surmounted  by  a  bust  of  William  II.,  which  is  said  to  be  a 
prize  that  he  took  at  a  horse  race.  The  inscription,  translated,  is  : 
"  Emperor  William  II.,  the  victor  in  the  large  army  steeplechase  at  the 
Hoppegarten,  June  9,  1890." 

But  it  is  the  royal  boudoir  that  captivates  every  beholder.  The  room 
is  oval  in  form,  and  the  ceiling,  being  unfinished,  is  covered  with  canvas. 
The  walls  are  hung  with  blue  velvet,  on  which  is  embroidered  by  hand, 
in  pure  gold,  such  a  mass  of  designs  in  flowers  and  cereals  that  the  cloth 
is  absolutely  heavy  with  the  precious  metal. 

The  west  wall  is  nearly  taken  up  with  a  large  mirror,  which,  accord- 
ing to  the  state  of  the  art  at  that  period,  is  made  up  of  forty  smaller 
mirrors.  It  is  flanked  by  palm  trees  carved  in  wood  and  gilded.  Similar 


ATTRACTIVE   EXHIBITS   FROM   GERMANY  AND   BELGIUM. 


513 


mirrors,  of  half  the  size,  adorn  the  ends  of  the  room.  These  features 
correspond  with  a  broad,  heavily  modeled  gilt  frieze  which  encircles  the 
walls  above  the  velvet  tapestry.  All  are  in  the  ornamental  style  of  the 
sixteenth  century. 


THE  GERMANIA  GROUP  OF  DECORATION. 

The  furniture  was  the  property  of  Ludwig  II.,  of  Bavaria,  and  is  now 
owned  by  his  brother  and  successor.  It  is  loaned  by  the  Prince  Regent 
Luitpold  for  Mr.  Seidl's  exhibit.  It  is  taken  from  the  Castle  of  Her- 
renchiemsee,  in  the  Bavarian  Alps.  It  consists  of  a  coronation  chair, 
two  smaller  chairs,  four  divans,  two  console  tables  and  four  candelabra. 
33 


514  ATTRACTIVE   EXHIBITS   FROM   GERMANY  AND   BELGIUM. 

These  articles  are  brilliant  and  beautiful   in  design,  and  are  so  richly 
gilded  that  one  can  hardly  doubt  that  they  are  solid  gold. 

Reproduction  of  the  Reichstag. 

The  reproduction  of  the  new  German  Reichstag  forms  a  huge  rec- 
tangular square,  from  each  corner  of  which  rises  a  superbly  propor- 
tioned and  richly  ornamented  tower.  Surmounting  these  towers  rises  a 
square  dome  of  great  beauty.  The  apex  of  this  is  modeled  and  built  in 
form  of  the  most  precious  jewel  of  the  German  nation — the  imperial 
crown. 

Professor  Reinhold  Bega's  magnificent  group  is  exhibited  in  bronze 
and  not  in  plaster  paris  as  originally  intended.  This  group  in  itself  is 
one  that  would  instantly  command  recognition  no  matter  where  placed. 
Sitting  man-fashion  astride  a  powerful  charger,  armor-clad  and  of  proud 
mien,  is  Germania,  the  incarnation  of  a  warrior  maiden  of  heroic  beauty. 
In  her  right  hand  she  holds  aloft  the  eagle-crowned  staff,  draped  with 
the  rich  folds  of  the  imperial  German  standard.  In  her  left  hand, 
resting  against  her  knee,  she  carries  a  round  shield,  emblazoned  with 
the  war  eagle.  A  deep  nick  in  its  edge  gives  it  an  unmistakable 
significance.  Her  guard  of  honor  is  on  one  side  a  superbly  modeled 
young  warrior  with  dignified  and  proud  carriage,  carrying  his  sword 
and  a  branch  of  laurel  in  one  hand,  while  with  the  other  he  grasps  the 
bridle  of  the  horse.  On  the  other  side  is  the  Goddess  of  Victory,  a 
graceful  figure,  who  proclaims  the  glories  of  won  battles  through  her 
garland  entwined  trumpet.  This  group,  which,  when  returned  from 
Chicago,  will  adorn  the  grand  entrance  of  the  new  House  of  Parliament^ 
ranks  as  one  of  the  best  productions  of  German  sculpture. 

Germany's  Crown  Jewels. 

Millions  of  dollars'  worth  of  jewels,  belonging  to  the  German  Emperor 
and  Empress,  and  the  military  and  civil  celebrities  of  Germany,  were 
sent  to  Chicago  for  exhibition  at  the  Fair.  The  jewels  are  literally 
priceless.  Aside  from  their  intrinsic  value,  which  is  enormous,  they 
possess  great  historical  value,  and  were  they  lost,  money  could  not 
replace  them.  They  are  the  collection  of  many  years,  and  are  loaned 
officially  to  the  German  exhibit  at  the  Fair  by  the  present  Emperor 
Besides  the  jewels  of  state,  there  are  large  quantities  from  firms  and 
private  citizens.  The  ornaments  are  of  gold  and  silver,  studded  with 
diamonds  and  other  precious  gems. 

The  lot  contains  rare  pieces  that  belonged  to  the  country's  rulers  and 
to  its  military  heroes,  Bismarck  and  Von  Moltke.  There  are  hundreds 


ATTRACTIVE   EXHIBITS   FROM   GERMANY  AND   BELGIUM.  515 

of  pieces  in  the  collection.  There  are  magnificent  gifts  of  honor  that 
have  been  presented  to  William  II.  Another  item  is  a  handsome 
pitcher  in  gold  and  diamonds  that  was  a  wedding  gift  to  the  Emperor 
from  his  people  in  the  states  along  the  Rhine. 

One  collection  consists  of  eleven  splendid  gold  and  silver  gifts  to 
William  I.  Another  contains  five  pieces  of  rare  and  beautiful  cups  that 
were  presented  to  Frederick  III.  Other  like  gifts  to  the  Grand  Duke  of 
Baden  and  to  Henry  of  Prussia,  are  to  be  seen.  These  were  presenta- 
tions of  love  and  honor  from  German  cities  and  states  in  all  parts  of  the 
empire. 

There  is  also  a  large  collection  of  magnificent  race  trophies  and  dona- 
tions— prizes  to  the  Emperor  for  horse  and  water  racing.  Fifteen 
handsome  models  in  silver  are  seen.  The  exhibit  also  contains 
numerous  valuable  medals  that  have  at  times  been  presented  to  Bis- 
marck and  Count  von  Moltke.  Those  of  Bismarck's  are  eighteen  in 
number,  and  von  Moltke' s  number  eight  gifts. 

Beautiful  Textile  Fabrics. 

A  very  important  part  of  the  German  exhibit  is  the  textile  showing. 
This  occupies  twenty  show-cases.  The  display  made  by  Professor  Her- 
man Goetz,  president  of  the  Industrial  Art  Museum,  is  entirely  of  hand- 
made goods.  Some  of  the  laces  are  very  rare  and  worth  a  great  deal  of 
money.  There  are  pillow  slips  and  shams  and  sofa  pillows  of  most 
artistic  design  and  workmanship. 

The  individual  efforts  have  been  combined  into  exhibits  which  repre- 
sent whole  provinces.  In  one  single  display  is  grouped  the  choicest 
fabrics  from  a  score  of  mills,  all  put  under  the  head  of  the  town  or  pro- 
vince which  makes  the  display,  and  the  only  distinguishing  marks  to 
tell  from  whose  factory  the  goods  came  are  the  names  ranged  in  a  long 
list  beside  one  of  the  cases. 

Crefeld,  for  example,  makes  a  display  of  silk  goods  of  every  descrip- 
tion. Dress  goods  and  trimmings  occupy  cases  alongside  those  given 
over  to  a  display  of  trimming  silks,  and  adjoining  this  are  seen  goods 
intended  for  umbrellas  and  parasols,  for  upholstery  work,  for  neckwear, 
and  for  the  varied  uses  to  which  silk  is  put.  One  large  window  is  given 
over  to  a  display  of  the  manufacture  of  silk  from  the  cocoon  to  the  fin- 
ished material,  Fourteen  firms  have  contributed  to  this  display. 

Products   of   Vineyards. 

German  wine  growers  and  dealers  made  great  preparations  for  a  dis- 
play at  the  Exposition.  Two  hundred  and  eighty  exhibitors  are  regis- 


516  ATTRACTIVE   EXHIBITS   FROM   GERMANY  AND   BELGIUM. 

tered  who  send  sixteen  hundred  different  samples  of  wines  grown  in 
Baden,  Alsace,  Hesse,  the  Rhine  Provinces,  Wurtemberg,  under  the 
care  of  a  representative  committee  of  wine  growers  and  dealers.  A  sum 
of  over  twenty  thousand  dollars  was  subscribed,  partly  by  the  German 
States  and  cities,  with  which  a  fine  exhibition  hall  in  German  renaissance 
was  built  on  Midway  Plaisance.  On  the  walls  are  pictures  of  the 
finest  scenery  in  the  wine  growing  districts  of  the  Rhine  and  the 
Mosel  by  artists  of  reputation  from  actual  sketches  made  specially  for 
the  Exposition. 

Among  the  noteworthy  views  are  the  Germania  memorial  statue  and 
the  Castle  of  Ehrenfels,  while  plaster  reproductions  of  both  heighten 
the  effect.  Other  pictures  show  the  noteworthy  objects  of  interest  in 
the  wine  growing  districts  of  Baden,  Alsace,  and  Wurtemberg.  The 
different  methods  of  growing  wine  are  represented,  and  the  samples  of 
each  kind  are  appropriately  grouped  and  marked  according  to  rules 
intended  to  secure  uniformity  and  effect.  Maps  show  the  exact  posi- 
tion of  each  district,  and  the  building  is  lit  by  electricity  and  made 
attractive  both  outwardly  and  inwardly.  A  good  hand  book  describes 
the  qualities  of  German  wines,  and  a  restaurant  supplies  them,  as  well 
as  German  national  dishes.  The  French  wine  producers  have  followed 
the  example  of  their  German  rivals,  and  organized  a  collective  exhibit. 

To  Delight  the  Children. 

In  the  north  front  of  the  pavilion  in  Manufactures'  Building  is  what 
might  be  characterized  as  a  children's  heaven,  consisting  of  a  series  of 
exhibits  of  toys.  The  first  is  that  of  the  Sonneberger  Toy  Factory  of 
Munich,  which  displays  a  Santa  Claus  wagon  fifteen  feet  high,  drawn  by 
a  stuffed  horse,  with  a  stuffed  St.  Bernard  dog  trotting  along  by  his  side. 
Piled  high  in  this  wagon,  in  picturesque  confusion,  are  boys  and  girls 
and  everything  imaginable  that  they  delight  in.  A  girl  drives,  and 
Santa  Claus  is  on  the  pinnacle  of  the  load.  The  surrounding  show- 
cases contain  articles  enough  to  stock  a  large  toy  shop. 

Among  other  things  is  a  baby  kitchen,  valued  at  $200,  but  the  most 
admirable  articles  are  a  line  of  scientific  toys  arranged  by  the  Bavarian 
Industrial  Museum  at  Nuremberg.  Among  them  is  every  form  of 
steamship,  steam  engine,  electrical  machinery,  and  magic  lantern,  and 
all  of  them  finished  as  nicely  as  if  they  were  full  size.  There  are  battle- 
ships three  feet  long,  perfect  in  every  detail,  with  sailors,  marines,  and 
guns,  and  no  end  of  water  craft  of  other  kinds.  These  articles  are  won- 
derfully cheap  in  Germany,  a  nice  working  stationary  steam  engine  four 
jnches  high  selling  for  less  than  50  cents. 


518  ATTRACTIVE  EXHIBITS   FROM  GERMANY  AND   BELGIUM. 

Krupp's  Big  Gun. 

Although  the  Krupp  exhibit  occupies  a  building  by  itself  it  is  men- 
tioned here  as  a  part  of  what  Germany  shows  at  the  Fair.     The  gun 
and   the   car   that   brought   it  from  Baltimore  had  a  gross  weight  of 
450,000  pounds,  and  all  the  bridges  and  culverts  over  which  they  passed 
were  strengthened  to  bear  the  unusual  weight. 

This  gun  is  one  of  the  two  largest  ever  made.  It  was  cast  at  the 
famous  works  at  Essen,  Germany,  and  weighs  270,000  pounds.  It  is 
47  feet  long,  6  feet  and  6  inches  in  diameter  at  its  thickest  part,  has  a 
i6^-inch  bore  and  is  made  of  the  finest  steel  at  a  cost  of  $80,000.  The 
shell  used  is  made  of  forged  steel.  The  range  is  sixteen  miles,  with  ab- 
solute accuracy  and  effect  at  a  distance  of  twelve  miles.  The  gun  has 
been  fired  between  forty  and  fifty  times  and  each  time  it  costs  $1,250  to 
discharge  it.  The  twelve-inch  steel  plates  which  were  perforate'd  at  a 
distance  of  four  miles  are  exhibited  with  the  gun  in  the  Krupp  building. 
The  two  arms  which  rest  on  the  carriage  project  two  feet  from  either 
side  and  are  two  feet  thick.  So  perfectly  is  this  great  weight  balanced 
that  when  resting  on  these  arms  it  stays  in  a  horizontal  position.  To 
move  its  position  hydraulic  pressure  is  used. 

When  Krupp  sells  a  big  gun  the  hoisting  apparatus  goes  with  it  and 
is  included  in  the  price.  The  work  of  rigging  this  is  the  heavy  task, 
for  the  gun  can  be  lifted  on  the  car  and  placed  on  the  carriage  in  half 
an  hour  after  the  chains  are  in  position.  The  test  which  was  made  with 
the  chains  for  the  gun  at  Baltimore  showed  a  lifting  power  of  1 50  tons. 
It  is  the  heaviest  piece  of  freight  ever  handled  and  it  was  brought 
through  without  a  hitch,  the  only  difficulty  encountered  being  that  the 
journals  got  hot  very  easily  and  had  to  be  greased  very  often.  Fresh 
brasses  for  the  boxes  were  carried  along  in  case  of  accident,  but  they 
were  not  used. 

The  Kaiser's  Protective  Measures. 

The  protective  measures  invented  by  Emperor  William  of  Germany 
and  now  in  force  among  millions  of  workingmen  in  Germany  are  placed 
before  American  workingmen  at  the  World's  Fair.  These  protective 
measures  are  based  on  the  insurance  principle,  and  workingmen  pro- 
tected by  them  are  insured  against  accidents,  sickness,  invalidity,  and 
old  age. 

With  the  view  of  making  its  work  known  to  American  workingmen 
the  Imperial  Insurance  Department  prepared  for  the  World's  Fair  a  con- 
cise summary  showing  what  benefits  accrue  to  workingmen  who  become 


ATTRACTIVE   EXHIBITS   FROM   GERMANY   AND   BELGIUM.  519 

members  of  this  peculiar  social  political  organization.  This  summary, 
being  the  only  work  of  the  kind  at  the  Exposition,  attracts  attention. 
On  large  wall  maps  are  shown  statistics  of  the  extent,  costs,  and  mode 
of  operation  of  the  various  branches  of  workingmen's  insurance,  and  in 
addition  there  are  abstracts  of  results  up  to  the  present  time  and  interest- 
ing calculations  based  on  averages,  showing  what  inferences  may  be 
fairly  drawn,  as  to  the  value  of  the  system  and  its  benefit  to  working- 
men  in  general. 

Marvels  of  Art  and  Industry  from  Belgium. 

Walking  southward  along  Columbia  avenue  every  exhibiter,  from  the 
Japanese  to  the  French,  seems  ambitious  to  make  the  finest  display  of 
pottery.  One  would  expect,  therefore,  that  there  would  be  a  sameness 
and  that  pottery  would  become  a  bore,  but  it  is  not  so.  Every  country 
has  its  own  pottery  and  the  pottery  has  its  own  admirers.  This  is  true 
of  the  Belgium  exhibit  also,  where  the  visitor  feels  at  once  that  he  has 
struck  an  entirely  different  artistic  atmosphere. 

The  articles  exhibited  are  somewhat  different  from  those  found  in 
other  pottery  exhibits.  There  are  vases,  urns,  dinner  ware,  plaques, 
and  tiles,  as  in  other  exhibits,  but  there  are  also  bird  cages,  candelabra, 
mantels,  and  clocks.  The  plaques  are  different  in  style  from  others. 
Many  of  them  are  of  fancy  outline,  with  loops  for  hanging  them  by. 
Some  are  framed  with  wood  or  with  crimson  plush.  Then  there  is  a 
large  line  of  plaques  in  the  shape  of  immense  platters,  from  three  to 
four  feet  in  diameter,  designed  for  mural  decorations. 

Some  of  the  most  attractive  articles  are  displayed  on  a  three-shelved 
table  near  the  entrance.  Here  are  two  porcelain  bird-cages  that  look 
as  if  they  might  be  sent  from  Paradise.  Here  also  are,  at  each  end,  two 
immense  vases  four  and  a  half  feet  high  in  Delft.  Elsewhere  are  splen- 
did plaques  painted  after  the  old  masters.  Most  of  the  decorations  on 
this  table  are  Delft  and  some  in  black  Delft,  but  there  are  also  some 
fine  specimens  of  polychrome. 

Handsome  Blue  Delft  Ware. 

In  the  matter  of  color  this  exhibit  contains  a  large  proportion  of  pot- 
tery in  the  old  Delft  blue  style.  This  ware,  which  at  first  view  has  an 
appearance  of  excessive  plainness,  improves  on  a  close  acquaintance  and 
turns  out  to  be  conceived  and  executed  in  the  highest  art.  It  always 
includes  a  pleasing  or  instructive  picture,  which  may  be  a  landscape,  or 
a  domestic  scene,  or  a  likeness  of  one  of  the  girls  employed  in  making 
it.  Everything  about  it  is  realistic,  domestic,  and  homelike,  and  it  is 


520  ATTRACTIVE   EXHIBITS   FROM   GERMANY  AND   BELGIUM. 

found  an  agreeable  relaxation  from  the  somewhat  tawdry  ornamentation 
of  other  schools.  In  fact,  this  Flemish  feeling  pervades  more  or  less 
the  entire  exhibit. 

The  most  novel  portion  of  this  exhibit  is  a  table  filled  with  articles 
partly  in  Chinese  and  Arabic  styles  and  partly  in  old  Persian  styles, 
taken  from  pieces  from  the  Kensington  Museum.  After  one  has  been 
sated  and  almost  wearied  with  the  richness  of  Austrian  and  French  pot- 
tery, and  felt  that  there  could  be  nothing  that  he  had  not  seen,  it  is  de- 
lightful to  come  upon  this  exhibit  and  behold  a  totally  new  style  of  art^ 
just  as  beautiful,  but  as  different  as  if  it  had  been  conceived  on  a 
different  planet.  It  will  be  observed,  however,  that  in  this  unique  ware 
the  coloring  is  softened  in  tone  and  improved  in  artistic  effect. 

To  show  the  care  with  which  this  exhibit  was  prepared  it  should  be 
said  that  tables,  their  distance  apart,  their  relative  positions,  their  con- 
tents and  the  arrangement  of  their  contents  were  all  decided  upon  in 
Belgium.  Every  table  and  piece  was  then  numbered,  so  that  the 
arrangement  was  exactly  reproduced  here. 

Bronzes  from  Brussels. 

Nothing  in  the  Belgium  exhibit  is  more  curious,  interesting  and 
beautiful  than  a  group  of  bronzes  placed  near  the  main  entrance.  It 
comes  from  the  foundry  of  the  Societe  Anonyme  at  Brussels.  The  large 
pieces  consist  of  a  vase  eight  feet  high,  a  life-size  statue  of  Leonidas 
at  Thermopylae,  and  a  piece  five  feet  high  consisting  of  a  beautiful 
female  figure  with  three  or  four  Cupids  clambering  over  it,  called 
"  Innocence  Tormented  by  Love."  The  smaller  pieces  consist  of  wreaths 
of  flowers  of  the  most  delicate  and  intricate  moulding  imaginable. 
There  is  probably  nothing  in  the  Exposition  more  thoroughly  artistic 
than  this  exhibit. 

The  chief  interest  in  these  bronzes,  however,  arises  from  the  process 
by  which  they  are  made,  called  "  the  lost  wax  process,"  known  to  have 
been  in  use  by  the  sculptors  and  foundries  of  antiquity,  but  long  since 
and  for  many  centuries  lost  and  unknown.  Of  late  years  it  has  been,  as 
is  supposed,  rediscovered,  and  is  now  in  constant  use  at  the  foundry  of 
the  Societe  Anonyme.  The  process  in  ordinary  use,  called  the  sand 
process,  gives  better  results  in  some  kinds  of  castings ;  but  where 
delicate  outlines  and  shapes  are  desired  nothing  is  comparable  to  the 
lost  wax  process. 

Rich  Display  of  Laces. 

Belgium  is  famous  for  its  laces  and  its  lace-makers,  who  have  their 
headquarters  at  Brussels.  The  ladies  expect,  therefore,  a  grand  display 


ATTRACTIVE  EXHIBITS  FROM   GERMANY  AND   BELGIUM.  521 

of  laces  in  the  Belgium  exhibit,  and  they  are  not  disappointed.  Three 
or  four  of  the  leading  manufacturers  of  Brussels  have  booths,  in  which 
everything  in  this  line  that  is  rare,  costly  and  bewitching  may  be  seen. 
The  pieces  exhibited,  some  large  and  some  small,  are  so  much  finer  and 
more  beautiful  than  are  ordinarily  seen  that  they  might  be  regarded  as 
the  apotheosis  of  lace.  No  designs  were  ever  so  rich  and  varied,  and 
no  lace  was  ever  so  airy,  gossamer-like  and  divine.  They  look  like 
phantasm  in  thread  or  a  dream  in  meshes. 

Mr.  St.  Martin,  who  has  one  of  these  displays  in  charge,  gave  some 
interesting  facts  with  reference  to  lacemaking  in  Belgium.  Most  people 
will  be  surprised  to  learn  that  the  gorgeous  fabrics  are  not  made  in  a 
factory,  but  by  the  farm  women,  scattered  all  over  Belgium,  at  their  own 
homes.  Every  great  lace  merchant  has  a  factory  with  perhaps  twenty- 
five  women  operators,  who  fill  special  orders,  and  who  join  and  group 
the  work  of  others  ;  but  it  has  about  500  farm  girls  who  work  for  it  and 
make  the  great  bulk  of  the  lace.  These  poor  girls  milk  the  cows  or  till 
the  fields  from  morning  to  night,  and  then  make  a  little  patch  of  lace 
before  they  go  to  bed. 

Made  in  the  Farm  Houses. 

The  Brussels  manufacturer  furnishes  them  with  designs  and  with  the 
thread  and  they  do  the  rest,  mostly  with  the  needle.  Agents  of  the 
house  travel  through  the  country  all  the  time,  giving  out  and  taking  up 
work.  The  amount  of  lace  that  one  of  these  girls  can  make  in  an  even- 
ing, after  the  milking,  without  interfering  with  sparking,  varies,  accord- 
ing to  the  character  of  the  design,  from  one  square  inch  to  four  square 
inches,  and  her  earnings  generally  amount  to  from  15  to  20  cents. 
Those  who  work  all  day  in  the  factories  at  Brussels  earn  about  $i  a  day. 
It  is  a  singular  thing  that  they  never  complete  a  whole  pattern.  Each 
girl  makes  a  little  patch  of  a  design  and  all  the  patches  are  taken  to  the 
factory  in  Brussels,  where  they  are  put  together  so  deftly  that  no  one 
can  ever  discover  the  joinings. 

One  wonders,  of  course,  how  girls  who  have  to  toil  on  farms  ever 
learn  such  a  difficult  and  artistic  style  of  work  ;  and  the  answer  is  that 
the  skill  has  become  traditional.  Certain  families  for  centuries,  perhaps, 
have  devoted  themselves  to  the  making  of  a  certain  kind  of  lace,  and 
the  secret  and  the  skill  of  the  trade  are  handed  down  from  mother 
to  daughter.  The  ladies,  if  there  are  any,  who  cannot  enjoy  birds  on 
their  bonnets,  because  of  the  cruelty  inflicted,  would  have  a  holy  horror 
of  a  piece  of  lace  if  they  could  only  realize  the  grinding,  poorly-remun- 
erated toil  of  women  which  every  inch  of  it  represents. 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 
Art  and  Industries  of  France. 

THE  French  exhibit  in  the  Manufactures  and  Liberal  Arts  Build- 
ing looms   up  imposingly.     The  pavilion  or  inclosure  of  the 
French  exhibit,  itself  a  brilliant  exhibition   of  French  taste, 
was  designed  by  M.  Dubuisson,  a  Parisian  architect,  and  con- 
sists exteriorly  of  a  wall  twenty- five  feet  high,  with  an  arched  main  en- 
trance sixty  feet  wide  and  sixty  feet  high,  in  the  Grseco-French  style  of 
architecture,  and  built  of  "staff."     The  fa$ade  is  composed  of  a  broad 
frieze  and  cornice,  enriched  with  shields,  monograms,  lions'  heads,  fes- 
toons and  cornucopiae,  and  large  tablets  of  variegated  stone  inscribed 
with   the   word  "  France,"  the  whole   being   supported  at   intervals  of 
twenty  feet  with  square  pillars.     The  upper  angles  of  the  open  spaces 
are  filled  in  with  large  stooping  caryatides.       In  front  of  the  frieze,  at 
intervals  corresponding  with  the  pillars,  are  free-standing  small  round 
columns,  topped  off  with  red  flagstaff's  bearing  tricolored  bannerets. 

Unlike  the  German  pavilion,  that  of  France  does  not  emphasize  in 
any  way  the  angle  of  its  section,  but  lops  it  off  squarely  instead  of 
quarter-circling  it  in  as  the  Germans  did  theirs  with  fine  effect.  The 
main  entrance  of  the  French  pavilion  is  near  the  center  of  the  west 
front  on  Columbian  avenue  and  consists  of  a  lofty  arch  flanked  with 
monumental  square  pillars  and  treated  with  exquisite  beauty  as  a  niche. 
Within  the  arch  is  a  half  dome  of  yellow  transparent  stuff,  with  panels 
figured  in  gold.  Below  the  dome  on  either  side  is  a  large  and  beautiful 
mural  painting  and  in  the  center  a  lofty  Grecian  doorway. 

Spacious  and  Beautiful  Palace. 

The  French  pavilion,  like  the  German  pavilion,  has  several  covered 
and  connecting  apartments,  but  this  feature  is  carried  much  farther  in 
the  French  pavilion  than  in  any  other,  and  is  one  of  its  chief  attractions. 
After  passing  through  the  great  main  entrance  the  visitor  feels  that  he 
is  in  a  vast  palace,  and  walking  through  one  after  another  of  its  rich 
and  varied  salons.  One  very  side  he  sees  enriched  doorways,  gorgeous 
mural  paintings,  decorated  friezes  and  deeply  molded  cornices,  and  over- 
head beautiful  semi-transparent  vellum  ceilings,  some  with  broad  borders 
and  centerpieces  of  lace,  some  paneled  with  vellum  of  different  shades, 
522 


ARTS  AND   INDUSTRIES   OF   FRANCE.  523 

some  striped  with  pale  blue  and  white,  some  as  level  as  a  floor,  and 
some  drawn  up  in  the  center  like  a  canopy  in  fairyland.  In  the  eastern 
half  of  the  section  the  space  is  taken  up  with  booths,  as  in  other  na- 
tional pavilions,  but  all  designed  with  exquisite  taste,  and  filled  with  mag- 
nificent exhibits. 

"  La  France  Republicaine  "  is  a  group  of  statuary  ordered  by  the 
French  government  to  adorn  the  center  of  the  pavilion.  The  group 
represents  a  heroic  statue  of  "  La  France  "  seated.  On  the  body  is  the 
cuirass  of  the  French  cavalry.  The  right  arm  is  majestically  held  on 
high,  while  the  left  arm  rests  upon  the  Table  of  the  Rights  of  Man, 
against  which  the  hand  presses  a  naked  sword.  A  large  scarf  encircles 
the  waist  and  is  knotted  at  one  side.  Above  the  erect  and  noble  head, 
resting  on  the  bands  of  hair,  is  a  diadem.  This  is  formed  of  three  fig- 
ures symbolic  of  Liberty,  Equality  and  Fraternity.  The  figure  of  La 
France  is  supplemented  by  that  of  the  French  chanticleer,  standing  in 
an  attitude  such  as  cocks  assume  when  issuing  triumphant  crows. 

Many  Marvels  in  Bronze. 

There  is  a  forest  of  bronze  work  in  several  apartments  of  this  ex- 
hibit. In  one  is  a  cabinet  in  renaissance  style ;  the  wood  is  ebony,  and 
the  decorations  are  of  chased  bronze.  It  is  intended  to  contain  whatever 
the  possessor  may  have  to  put  into  it.  Most  likely  it  would  be  used  in 
this  country  for  silverware,  or  for  wine  decanters.  The  doors  are  of 
plate  glass,  and  the  entire  cabinet  stands  ten  feet  high.  The  value 
placed  on  this  is  $5,000.  As  it  appears  in  this  exhibit  it  is  filled  with 
solid  silver  wine  sets  and  a  mulberry  dish  of  solid  silver  repousse  work, 
valued  at  $1,000.  The  work  on  the  latter  is  so  delicate  that  it  required 
a  year  to  do  it. 

The  candelabra,  chandeliers,  hall  figures,  vases,  clocks,  busts,  statuary, 
and  an  endless  accumulation  of  ornamentations  are  here  in  bronze,  and 
some  of  it  is  so  exquisite  as  to  defy  the  investigation  of  any  one  but  an 
expert.  There  is  a  bronze  banquet  set,  the  jardiniere  and  candelabra 
alone  being  worth  $700.  A  chandelier,  Louis  XVI.  pattern,  contains 
sixty  candles  and  three  lamps ;  a  casket  for  jewelry,  in  bronze  and  gilt 
enamel,  with  satin  lining,  is  valued  at  $420.  A  bronze  figure  of  Charles 
V,  of  Spain,  copied  from  the  original  in  Madrid,  with  armor  adjustable, 
is  a  striking  figure.  A  souvenir  bronze,  on  which  are  colors  of  France 
and  the  United  States  blended,  hangs  near  a  bronze  relief  of  Washington 
and  Lafayette. 

Two  great  figures  with  horns  of  abundance  out  of  which  spring  chan- 
deliers for  electric  or  gas  lights  are  valued  at  $10,000.  These  figures 


524  ARTS  AND   INDUSTRIES  OF  FRANCE. 

are  copies  of  statues  by  Carrier  Belleuse,  the  celebrated  French  sculptor. 
Other  figures  are  from  the  work  of  Barye.  A  cabinet  made  of  ebony 
and  bronze,  with  enamel  of  Limoges,  France,  the  figures  being  Grecian, 
has  a  secret  spring  and  a  labyrinth  of  drawers.  The  value  of  this  is 
$20,000.  A  bronze  Caesar  Augustus  copied  from  the  original  in  the 
Vatican,  shown  at  the  Paris  Exposition,  challenges  the  passer  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  exhibit. 

The  First  Napoleon. 

There  are  medalions  in  bronze  and  busts  of  the  First  Napoleon,  but 
not  one  anywhere  of  Napoleon  the  Little.  A  striking  figure  is  "  Na- 
poleon's Last  Days."  He  is  in  a  great  chair  with  a  robe  falling  from  his 
neck  and  shoulders.  The  head  is  set  as  it  is  said  to  have  been  always 
in  his  life,  but  the  expression  is  one  of  despair — a  lost  something — and 
across  the  knees  a  map  of  Europe,  with  one  hand  resting  on  France. 

Across  the  way  are  marble  busts  of  Napoleon  when  he  was  First  Con- 
sul, when  he  was  a  General,  when  he  was  Emperor,  and  other  figures  of 
him  who  did  so  much  for  the  glory  of  France,  a  copy  of  Houdon's  Vol- 
taire, and  Franklin  and  Washington.  Bronzes  of  Shakespeare  and  Mil- 
ton, copies  from  the  work  of  Carrier  Belleuse,  and  bronzes  of  the  four 
seasons ;  of  Mars  and  Minerva  ;  Le  Joug,  by  Pepim  ;  Diana's  Victory ; 
Carmen,  by  Pinedo  ;  a  Napoleon,  by  Pinedo  ;  Aida,  copied  from  Leroux, 
in  bronze,  sitting  on  the  head  of  the  Sphinx,  the  latter  a  .great  bronze, 
are  also  shown. 

One  might  spend  a  day  on  these  two  corners  and  never  feel  that  one 
had  lost  the  time.  There  is  an  expression  in  all  the  work,  almost  as 
striking  as  some  of  those  which  are  seen  on  the  canvases  at  the  Art 
Gallery. 

Gustave  Dore"'s  Wonderful  Vase. 

Probably  nothing  in  the  section  wins  so  great  admiration  as  the  huge 
bronze  vase  that  bears  the  well-known  straggling  signature  of  Gustave 
Dore. 

The  vessel  is  six  or  seven  feet  in  height,  and  with  its  pedestal  stands 
fifteen  feet  from  the  floor.  Not  in  many  instances  did  the  master  desert 
the  brush  for  the  chisel,  but  those  familiar  with  his  paintings  will  find 
but  little  difficulty  in  recognizing  his  bold  style,  with  its  inevitable  ten- 
dency to  the  fantastic.  From  top  to  base  the  vase  is  covered  with  fig- 
ures and  leafage  in  high  relief. 

The  figures  form  a  Bacchic  procession  of  satyrs,  fauns,  and  nymphs, 
wreathed  in  vine  leaves,  which  are  also  woven  around  the  base  of  the 


ARTS  AND   INDUSTRIES  OF  FRANCE.  525 

vase.  The  wonderful  originality  of  pose  and  the  power  with  which  the 
figures  are  executed  renders  the  vase  a  work  of  art  of  the  first  rank. 

Just  inside  the  main  entrance  is  a  room  filled  with  Sevres  pottery. 
In  a  light  softened  by  admirable  judgment  the  deep  azure  and  gold  so 
favored  of  potters  in  the  famed  French  potteries  is  seen  at  its  best. 
The  centerpiece  in  the  room  is  a  stand  on  which  are  placed  a  gradation 
of  priceless  vases  rising  to  a  pinnacle  on  which  is  placed  a  shapely 
vessel  of  purest  white.  In  cases  around  the  walls  are  set  other  vases,  the 
gems  of  the  collection  being  a  pair  of  rich  blue  vases  some  four  feet  in 
height,  occupying  pedestals  at  either  end  of  the  room. 

Marvelous  tapestries  deck  the  walls,  the  workmanship  being  so  fine 
that  at  a  short  distance  the  woven  pictures  possess  all  the  smoothness 
of  an  oil  painting.  A  tapestry  of  "  Cupid  and  Psyche,"  in  an  inner 
room,  is  especially  commendable. 

There  are  multitudes  of  bronzes  in  the  section  only  less  worthy  of 
mention  than  Dore's  masterpiece.  A  striking  piece  of  work  is  the 
figure  of  a  dancing  girl  entitled  "  La  Zingara."  The  pose  of  the  figure, 
with  its  uplifted  arms,  is  natural  and  graceful  to  a  degree.  The  draperies 
seem  to  float  in  their  airy  lightness  and  the  whole  conception  of  the 
swiftly  moving  figure  is  carried  out  to  perfection. 

Flying  Figures  in  Bronze. 

A  large  bronze  design  for  a  fountain,  credited  to  J.  P.  V.  Andri,  is  a 
reproduction  of  the  well-known  figure  of  old  Nile,  while  the  same  artist 
is  responsible  for  an  admirable  nude  in  the  same  material.  A  bronze 
full  of  life  is  A.  Jacquemart's  huntsman,  with  two  hounds  in  a  leash. 
The  figure,  with  its  muscles  straining  to  control  the  impatient  beasts, 
contains  movement  and  vivacity  in  a  high  degree. 

There  is  a  considerable  display  of  smaller  bronzes  for  mantel  orna- 
ments, some  of  which  are  works  of  art  of  considerable  merit.  One 
Tassel  contributes  a  representation  of  a  foot  race  which  might  well  have 
been  carried  out  on  a  larger  and  more  pretentious  scale.  The  work 
contains  four  figures,  straining  towards  a  goal,  their  attitudes  and  the 
expression  on  their  faces  being  alike  accurately  representative  of  intense 
exertion.  A  battle  piece,  which  is  labeled  as  having  received  the  gold 
medal  of  the  Paris  Exhibition,  is  an  elaborate  work  containing  many 
figures,  some  of  them  exceedingly  clever  in  their  execution. 

There  is  a  multitude  of  minor  objects'  of  bric-a-brac  possessing  all  the 
characteristics  never  dissociable  from  the  work  of  French  designers. 
No  nation  possesses  in  the  same  degree  the  facility  of  producing  a  vast 
effect  with  small  effort,  and  in  no  way  is  the  power  better  illustrated 


526 


ARTS    AND   INDUSTRIES   OF   FRANCE. 


than  in  the  matter  of  house  decoration.  The  national  characteristic  is 
shown  in  its  fullest  degree  in  the  French  section  of  the  Manufactures 
Building. 

There  is  a  large  case  filled  with  a  dazzling  exhibit  of  precious  stones, 
which  the  veracious  guards  value  all  the  way  from  $1,000,000  to 
$2,000,000.  Here  is  a  display  such  as  few  people  have  beheld.  There 
are  coronets  ablaze  with  diamonds,  fit  for  a  king's  ransom ;  necklaces  of 


STATUE    OF   A    GREAT    NORMAN    DRAUGHT    HORSE. 

whitest  pearls,  great  stars  and  headpieces  in  diamonds,  pearls,  emeralds, 
and  other  gems.  Among  them  is  a  necklace  said  to  have  been  sold  to 
a  New  York  banker  for  $120,000. 

Choice   Specimens  of  Silverware. 

One  booth  contains  an  exhibit  of  art  as  it  has  been  applied  to  silver- 
ware, almost  exclusively.  The  manager  in  charge  informs  you  that  the 
trade-mark  or  Christofle  on  such  work  as  he  shows  you  is  a  guaranty 
that  it  is  beyond  competition  and  the  latest  in  designs.  This  may  be  so 
and  it  may  not ;  but  it  can  be  truthfully  stated  that  the  work  in  the 
booth  now  being  considered  is  worthy  of  a  place  in  any  Exposition. 
The  designers  employed  are  instructed  to  follow  nature  as  closely  as 
practicable.  After  acceptances  of  the  designs  the  article  to  be  turned 
out  is  invariably  made  by  hand.  The  French  claim  that  they  are  the 
only  nation  that  does  this  in  fine  work.  The  manager  of  this  booth 
said  that  American  workmen  are  artistic  as  any,  but  that  they  make 
such  articles  as  he  showed  by  die  and  mold.  With  the  French  it  is 


ARTS  AND  INDUSTRIES  OF  FRANCE.  527 

done  by  working  from  the  inside  of  the  article.  The  figure  on  the 
surface  of  any  article  in  this  exhibit  has  been  pressed  into  its  prominence 
from  the  opposite  side. 

A  toilet  set  of  twenty  pieces,  including  candelabra,  also  of  sterling 
silver,  is  valued  at  $6,000.  The  smallest  article  in  this  set  has  been 
hammered  and  resembles  some  article  of  nature.  Near  by  are  three 
pieces — >a  coffee,  creamer,  and  sugar  bowl — with  silver  and  gold  enamel- 
ing, which  are  quoted  at  $2,300.  There  is  another  of  plain  sterling  silver, 
dull  finish,  consisting  of  a  coffee,  tea,  hot  water  pitcher,  creamer,  and 
two  trays,  tagged  for  $2,600.  A  French  plate  mirror  in  a  fantastically 
wrought  silver  frame,  accompanied  with  three  candelabra,  renaissance 
style,  would  be  shipped  to  the  address  of  the  purchaser  for  the  sum 
of  $600. 

Elegant  Furniture. 

An  elaborate  exhibit  in  this  room  is  a  banquet  table  consisting  of 
thirteen  pieces,  the  jardiniere  of  sold  silver,  with  a  May  party  of  children 
in  relief.  The  stands  for  confections  and  fruits  and  the  other  articles  are 
of  the  same  design.  The  value  of  this  set  is  $5,800.  Another  set  of 
fewer  pieces  is  more  costly,  $6,000  being  the  figure.  The  information 
was  delicately  given  that  President  Palmer  of  the  National  Commission 
has  an  option  on  this.  A  stand  for  grapes  is  made  of  three  silver  grape 
leaves,  and  the  trays  to  go  with  the  same  are  modeled  after  lotus  leaves 
and  are  of  delicate  workmanship.  One  class  of  labor  is  employed  to  do 
this,  and  as  the  work  requires  artistic  ability  and  time  the  articles  men- 
tioned are  found  only  on  the  tables  of  those  who  revel  in  the  luxuries  oflife. 

A  set  of  three  pieces,  a  clock  and  candelabra,  are  valued  at  $2,020. 
The  work  is  gold  and  silver  cloissonne  or  enamel.  Two  corner  cabinets 
of  old  oak  cloissonne  work,  are  seeking  a  purchaser  at  $6,000.  These 
cabinets  are  receptacles  for  silverware.  The  enameling  is  of  sterling 
silver,  cobalt,  and  gold.  This  enameling  is  put  into  the  wood  piece- 
meal by  hand  and  alone  represents  the  work  of  a  year. 

Costly  Jewel   Cabinet. 

Gorgeous  is  the  good  old  American  word  to  use  in  a  description  of  a 
renaissance  jewel  cabinet  made  of  ebony,  enameled  with  solid  silver  and 
gold  and  surmounted  by  a  marble  globe  around  which  is  a  gold  vine  as 
fragile  in  appearance  as  the  tracery  of  frost  work.  The  interior  of  this 
cabinet  is  finished  in  ivory,  and  contains  a  number  of  drawers  for  such 
articles  of  value  as  the  possessor  of  such  an  article  is  presumed  to  own. 
In  the  center  of  these  drawers  is  an  intricately  enameled  setting  which 
looks  as  if  it  might  be  a  tablet.  By  touching  a  secret  spring  it  opens, 


528  ARTS  AND   INDUSTRIES  OF  FRANCE. 

and  there  is  exposed  to  view  a  steel-lined  safe  in  which  diamonds  and 
other  valuable  jewels  may  be  stored,  and  on  closing  fhe  door  the  case, 
so  far  as  this  steel  receptacle  is  concerned,  is  supposed  to  be  burglar- 
proof.  On  the  door  of  the  safe  is  an  enamel  head  of  Wisdom,  and  above 
it  the  inscription:  "  Here  is  the  God  of  Love,"  rather  a  delicate  way  of 
saying  that  the  god  abides  only  where  wealth  abounds.  Two  lampstands 
in  repousse  work,  with  sterling  gold  and  gilt  finish,  go  with  the  cabinet, 
and  the  total  value  is  put  down  at  $25,000. 

Cabinets  of  silver  cutlery,  designs  severely  plain,  are  at  every  corner. 
A  tea  urn  in  silver,  with  gold  leaf  ornamentation,  is  on  a  conspicuous 
corner  and  is  marked  to  sell  at  $4,900.  Of  course  it  is  roomy  and  would 
hold  enough  tea  for  all  the  guests  of  a  World's  Fair  hotel.  Two  lamps, 
chiseled  by  hand,  of  solid  silver  and  gold,  are  quoted  at  $250  each.  A 
silver  watch  containing  an  alarm,  for  the  use  of  travelers  more  particu- 
larly, contains  an  instrument  which  wakes  you  up  at  the  hour  designated 
by  a  sound  resembling  that  which  a  grasshopper  is  supposed  to  make — 
which  ought  to  make  it  popular  with  Kansas  people.  This  watch  is 
valued  at  $30.  All  the  figures  in  this  exhibit  are  made  by  hand  and 
from  designs  furnished  by  artists  of  repute  in  France. 

Exhibit  of  the  French  Government. 

There  is  a  government  room  which  contains  the  national  display. 
The  French  government  owns  three  industries,  the  manufacture  of  china- 
ware  at  Sevres  and  of  tapestry  at  Gobelin  and  Beauvais.  In  the  center 
of  the  room  is  a  pyramid  of  beautiful  vases,  the  product  of  Sevres. 

On  the  south  wall  hangs  one  of  the7  marvels  of  art,  a  Beauvais  tapestry 
about  12  by  20  feet  in  size.  Its  title  is,  "  The  Fairies'  Godchild."  It 
shows  an  infant  on  a  couch,  surrounded  by  fairy  godmothers,  who  are 
bestowing  their  various  gracious  gifts.  At  the  left,  retreating  from  the 
happy  scene,  is  a  hag,  one  of  the  forbidding  fates.  The  figures  and  the 
draperies  are  richly  colored,  but  the  hues  are  finely  blended.  This 
tapestry  is  said  to  have  been  fifteen  years  in  process  of  making,  and  it  is 
valued  at  $120,000.  On  the  opposite  wall  is  a  Gobelin  of  similar  size,  a 
•classical  picture  of  the  meeting  of  the  mythological  figures  representa- 
tive of  the  arts  and  sciences.  It  is  in  somewhat  soberer  hues  from  a 
painting  by  Ehrmann,  and  is  intended  for  the  National  library  of  France. 
The  other  walls  are  hung  with  smaller  tapestries,  and  cabinets  are  filled 
with  small  pieces  of  Sevres. 

Silks  from   Lyons. 
.Silk  and  Lyons  are  synonymous.      It  is  always  common  to  think  of 


ARTS   AND   INDUSTRIES  OF   FRANCE.  529 

Lyons  whenever  silks  are  mentioned,  and  the  display  that  city  has  in  the 
French  section  makes  its  silk  industries  even  more  famous  than  they 
were  before.  The  Lyons  silk  exhibit  is  a  collective  one,  as  is  the  entire 
scheme  of  the  French  section  of  the  Manufactures  Building.  More  than 
thirty  manufacturers  of  Lyons  are  represented  in  the  collection,  which 
contains  all  sorts  of  tissues  and  fabrics,  ranging  in  price  from  10  cents  to 
,$100  per  yard. 

The  silk  salon,  as  the  section  is  called  which  contains  exclusively  silk 
textiles,  has  displayed  in  it  the  products  of  forty-three  factories,  each 
forming  a  portion  of  the  general  design  of  the  exhibit.  Besides  this 
array  of  manufactured  goods,  there  are  six  spinners,  a  number  of  silk- 
throwers,  and  other  employes,  who  demonstrate  the  manufacturing  pro- 
cesses of  the  silk  industry.  The  windows  of  the  silk  salon  have  a  facade 
of  55  feet,  and  the  entire  exhibit  strives  to  outdo  those  from  other 
countries  where  silk  is  made. 

Rich  Display  of    Feminine  Finery. 

Beginning  at  the  south  end  of  the  pavilion  on  Columbian  Avenue, 
the  first  exhibit  is  a  gorgeous  display  of  ladies'  costumes.  All  the 
costumes  are  exhibited  on  artistic  wax  figures,  many  of  which  are  fac- 
similes of  noted  women.  Blossier  exhibits  life-like  representations  of 
Adelina  Patti  and  Sarah  Bernhardt  by  their  express  permission  and 
wearing  their  favorite  costumes. 

The  display  of  Sara  Meyer  runs  back  under  the  gallery,  and  the  fact 
that  there  is  no  daylight  there  is  taken  advantage  of  for  the  construction 
of  a  brilliant  and  characteristic  scene  similar  to  that  of  Blossier.  This 
is  a  Parisian  salon,  by  electric  light,  containing  in  wax  a  bride,  her 
bridemaids,  and  her  family  at  the  moment  of  leaving  the  home  for  the 
church  to  be  married.  As  the  scene  has  been  photographed,  it  is  pos- 
sible to  say  with  certainty  that  it  is  a  most  happy  conception.  The 
occasion  portrayed  is  one  of  undying  interest,  the  wax  figures  them- 
selves afford  a  singular  opportunity  to  picture  expression,  and  the  cos- 
tumes of  the  bride  and  bridemaids  give  unlimited  scope  to  the  milliner's 
art.  It  takes  several  Columbian  Guards  to  keep  open  the  passageway 
in  front  of  the  fascinating  tableau. 

Passing  farther  along  the  west  front  one  sees  next  a  display  of  brushes, 
fans,  and  innumerable  other  articles  of  the  toilet,  and  next  to  that  an 
exhibit  of  perfumery  in  packages  of  Louis  XV.  style.  Here  the  exhibi- 
ter  dispenses  gratuitously  to  appreciative  lady  visitors  samples  of  his 
choicest  perfumes.  Then  comes  the  main  entrance,  and  if  one  turns  in 
there  he  is  soon  ushered  into  a  lofty  salon  about  forty  feet  square,  in 
34 


530  ARTS   AND   INDUSTRIES   OF   FRANCE. 

which  are  exhibited  the  world-famed  Gobelin  tapestry  and  Sevres  china- 
ware,  manufactured  only  by  the  French  Government,  and  never  offered 
for  sale.  People  with  a  fancy  for  the  very  top  notch  find  here  enough 
of  what  is  rich  and  rare  to  fill  their  eyes  and  imagination  for  a  whole 
day.  The  rest  of  the  west  front  and  the  entire  north  front  are  devoted 
to  a  dazzling  and  almost  endless  display  of  house  furnishings. 

Artistic  Drapery  Room. 

Furniture  is  displayed  in  one  of  the  main  rooms  in  great  cases  repre- 
senting rooms  in  a  fashionable  French  house.  The  drawing-room  is 
hung  in  costly  tapestries,  and  the  chairs  and  tables  are  made  in  the  deli- 
cate fashion  with  which  only  the  French  are  perfectly  familiar.  Mirrors, 
gorgeously  framed  in  gilded  bronze,  inlaid  tables  with  delicately  carved 
legs,  and  costly  bric-a-brac  complete  the  decoration  of  this  apartment. 
A  dining-room,  beautifully  decorated,  furnished  in  heavy  mahogany, 
upholstered  with  tapestry,  adjoins  the  drawing-room.  A  library  and  a 
bedroom,  which  are  extremely  French  and  extremely  artistic,  a  com- 
plete suite  of  rooms  in  which  the  best  furnishings  that  France  can  pro- 
duce are  shown.  Great  booths  bearing  the  magic  name  of  Bon  Marche 
attract  visitors  who  know  something  of  that  Parisian  house. 

Of  less  importance,  but  scarcely  less  pleasing,  are  the  bronze  trifles 
which  French  people  know  how  to  make  and  how  to  use  with  good 
effect  in  their  houses.  Standards  to  lamps,  candlesticks,  more  ambitious 
candelabra,  urns,  clocks,  and  even  table  bells  are  among  them.  The 
designs  vary,  but  are  nearly  all  classical,  embracing  the  usual  goddesses, 
cupids,  fauns,  and  satyrs.  A  lamp  designed  especially  for  electric  light 
is  striking,  because  it  is  in  a  great  measure  unique.  It  is  a  figure  of 
"  Spring  "  holding  aloft  a  garland  of  flowers,  in  the  calyxes  of  which  the 
bulbs  are  concealed.  Another  well-known  group  that  has  been  adapted 
to  the  purposes  of  electric  lighting  is  that  of  the  three  cherubs  racing. 
This  is  exquisite  in  old  bronze,  each  figure  holding  in  outstretched 
hands  incandescent  globes. 

Exquisite  Porcelain. 

After  the  bronzes  the  most  complete  exhibit  is  the  ceramic  and  glass- 
ware. This  is  placed  in  the  extreme  southern  end  of  the  French  section, 
where  they  occupy  considerable  space.  The  most  valuable  as  well  as 
the  most  beautiful  portion  of  the  exhibit  is  of  course  that  devoted  to 
Sevres  porcelain.  Exquisite  lamps  decorated  with  delicate  figures  and 
garlanded  with  roses  and  laughing  Cupids  are  placed  there  for  the  envy 
and  admiration  of  American  visitors.  Vases  and  clocks,  tiny  little  bon- 


ARTS  AND   INDUSTRIES  OF  FRANCE.  531 

bon  dishes,  and  rose  jars  are  beside  them.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that 
two  of  the  most  striking  and  largest  vases  in  the  entire  collection  are 
decorated  by  Mme.  Apoil,  who  is  considered  one  of  the  first  artists  in 
France  in  this  work.  On  one  vase  are  scenes  representing  the  life  of  the 
spring  and  summer  seasons  and  on  the  other  that  of  autumn  and  win- 
ter. Both  are  beautifully  mounted  in  gilded  bronze  and  they  are  valued 
at  $4,500. 

The  Haviland  exhibit:  is  large  and  comprehensive,  including,  besides 
dinner  sets  and  tea  sets  decorated  with  their  familiar  flower  design,  ex- 
quisite art  pieces  in  the  shape  of  after-dinner  coffee  cups  and  dessert 
plates,  the  designs  of  which  resemble  more  than  anything  else  that  of 
the  old  Sevres.  Seven  and  eight  dollars  is  a  moderate  price  for  these 
trifles,  especially  as  compared  with  those  that  must  be  paid  for  corres- 
ponding articles  of  Limoges.  This  is  in  every  respect  a  remarkable 
exhibit,  containing  all  the  usual  ai  tides  with  which  importers  of  French 
porcelain  have  made  Americans  familiar,  and  many  beside  very  seldom 
seen  outside  the  confines  of  Paris. 

Samples   of  Bookbinders'  Skill. 

One  of  the  richest  exhibits  in  the  French  section  are  the  superb  spe- 
cimens of  artistic  binding.  But  one  French  binder  sent  an  exhibit, 
but  it  goes  far  to  show  what  France  can  do  in  this  direction.  Over  a 
score  of  high-priced  volumes  are  displayed.  These  include  F.  de  La- 
mennais'  "  Imitation  de  Jesus  Christ,"  an  in-quarto  of  102  pages,  all  dif- 
ferently decorated,  and  containing  four  large  paintings  reproduced  in 
gold  and  colors  after  the  finest  manuscripts  from  the  thirteenth  to  the 
sixteenth  centuries.  This  edition  is  exceedingly  rare,  and  is  bound  in 
cuir  cisele.  It  is  marked  4,780  francs,  or  nearly  $  1,000.  The  composi- 
tion is  in  the  style  of  the  Renaissance,  and  all  the  ciselure  is  of  most 
beautiful  execution :  in  fact,  this  work  is  considered  by  amateurs  as  the 
most  remarkable  specimen  of  the  reconstitution  of  cuirs  ciseles  that 
Leon  Gruel  has  ever  brought  out,  and  is  a  masterpiece  of  reproduction 
from  illuminated  manuscripts  of  centuries  gone  by.  An  infant  Jesus 
adored  by  the  angels  forms  the  centerpiece  of  the  first  cover  and  sym- 
bolical figures  of  the  four  evangelists  occupy  the  corners. 

Four  thousand  dollars  is  the  price  attached  to  one  volume,  the  ori- 
ginal manuscript  of  De  Lamennais'  "Imitation."  This  valuable  manu- 
script is  composed  of  100  pages  on  vellum,  with  four  large  composi- 
tions and  a  series  of  miniatures  inspired  by  some  of  the  finest  manu- 
scripts of  the  middle  ages  and  by  renaissance,  with  varied  borders  exe- 
cuted by  two  celebrated  miniaturists,  E.  Moreau  and  G.  Ledoux. 


532  ARTS  AND   INDUSTRIES  OF  FRANCE. 

Among  the  remainder  of  this  display  of  bookbinding  is  a  prayer  book, 
a  bibliographical  curiosity.  The  work  is  all  done  on  silk  after  illumin- 
ated manuscripts  of  the  fourteenth,  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries. 
This  book  is  particularly  remarkable  from  the  fact  that  it  is  the  first  of 
its  kind  that  has  ever  been  made.  The  rich  borders,  the  miniatures,  the 
gothic  letters,  the  ends  of  the  lines,  are  all  executed  in  perfect  style  on 
silk.  The  volume  itself  is  gothic  and  was  made  in  Lyons  in  1886. 

Striking  Photographs. 

The  section  of  photography  in  the  French  liberal  arts  attracts  unusual 
attention.  The  French  Government  has  taken  an  unusual  amount  of 
interest  in  this  section,  and  Col.  Laussedat,  who  is  known  in  France  as 
the  father  of  photogrametry,  has  loaned  some  of  its  most  valuable  and 
curious  instruments  pertaining  to  that  art.  The  director  of  the  National 
Conservatory  of  Arts  and  Trades  of  Paris  also  sent  several  specimens  of 
his  latest  instruments  employed  in  photogrametry.  A  panoramic  appa- 
ratus is  also  displayed.  It  comes  from  the  Department  of  War,  and 
was  sent  over  by  Commandant  Moessard.  Some  fine  views  of  Mont 
Blanc  are  to  be  seen,  and  of  the  observatory  which  has  been  built  at  the 
top  of  it.  M.  Vallot,  director  of  Mont  Blanc  Observatory,  sent  his  tele- 
photography, which  permits  of  a  picture  being  taken  at  a  distance  of 
from  forty  to  forty-five  miles. 

Some  of  the  latest  discoveries  in  the  art  of  photography  of  colors  as 
obtained  by  Professor  Lippman  of  La  Sorbonne,  and  some  specimens  of 
photogravure  used  in  a  handsome  edition  of  "  The  Life  and  Works  of 
Honore  Fragonard,"  by  Baron  Roger  Portalis,  form  attractive  exhibits. 
From  an  industrial  point  of  view  the  most  interesting  exhibit  certainly 
is  that  of  samples  of  recent  discoveries  in  the  art  of  photography  in 
colors  on  cambrics,  silks,  paper,  stuffs,  and  cotton  materials.  The  new 
process  is  due  to  M.  Villain,  a  young  chemist,  and  is  destined  to  create 
quite  a  revolution  in  this  particular  section  of  industry,  for  when  the 
colors  are  once  photographed  on  the  materials  no  bleaching  liquid  can 
ever  efface  them. 

Curious    Sights. 

Some  of  the  most  curious  photographs  exhibited  are  those  that  come 
from  La  Salpetriere  and  taken  by  M.  Londe,  an  attache  of  the  clinical 
laboratory  of  Dr.  Charcot.  They  show  a  woman  being  hypnotized  by 
a  mere  look  and  by  the  sight  of  a  diamond  ;  they  also  show  women  in 
lethargic  and  cataleptic  conditions.  They  are  very  fine  reproductions, 
and  have  already  furnished  doctors  with  plenty  of  material  for  study.  In 


ARTS  AND  INDUSTRIES  OF  FRANCE.  633 

one  picture,  showing  hysterical  contractions,  a  strange  phenomenon  is 
noticeable.  It  is  that  of  one  of  the  fingers,  the  median,  reaching  far 
over  upon  the  wrist.  Under  hypnotization  the  subject  appears  to  be 
possessed  of  the  faculty  of  lengthening  the  middle  finger  most  abnor- 
mally. Other  pictures  taken  at  the  Salpetriere  Hospital  show  nervous 
subjects  in  different  crises,  and  samples  of  graphology,  the  art  of  judg- 
ing of  a  person's  disposition  or  character  from  the  handwriting. 

A  series  of  photographic  reproductions  of  the  most  famous  pictures 
in  the  galleries  of  the  Louvre,  Dresden,  Munich,  Venice,  Luxembourg, 
and  Antwerp  form  an  interesting  exhibit  on  account  of  the  large  size  of 
the  reproductions.  In  addition  to  these  there  are  some  instantaneous 
pictures  of  stage  scenes,  statuary,  and  photographs  of  the  catacombs  of 
Paris  and  different  grottoes  in  the  Department  of  Le  Herault,  France, 
taken  with  a  magnesium  light.  An  exhibit  is  made  by  the  leading  pho- 
tographic newspapers  of  France  and  also  by  some  French  amateurs. 

Bertillon  System  Illustrated. 

There  is  also  an  illustration  of  the  police  system  of  Paris,  considered 
to  be  very  near  perfection  by  those  whose  trade  it  is  to  detect  crime  and 
capture  criminals.  The  feature  of  this  part  of  the  display  was  the  ex- 
hibit made  of  the  practical  working  of  the  Bertillon  system  of  identifica- 
tion, which  is  in  operation  in  Chicago  and  of  which  many  descriptions 
have  been  written.  In  cabinets  there  are  shown  the  pictures  of  many 
bad-looking  men,  who  seem  to  have  been  plainly  enough  branded  by 
the  Creator,  so  that  no  officer  nor  citizen  need  make  any  mistake  in  re- 
gard to  their  character  or  lack  of  it. 

These  faces  are  shown,  photographed  from  various  points  of  view  and 
then  collected  into  groups,  with  a  view  of  illustrating  the  particular  brand 
of  physiognomy  that  goes  with  a  predilection  to  certain  kinds  of  crime. 
For  instance,  there  may  be  a  dozen  views  of  the  same  criminal,  showing 
each  feature  from  all  angles.  There  is  also  an  exhibit  of  the  system  of 
measuring  criminals,  and  the  photographing  process  is  illustrated  by  the 
appearance  of  two  figures,  one  representing  that  of  a  criminal  sitting  be- 
fore a  camera  and  the  other  that  of  a  corpse  lying  on  the  floor  with  the 
camera  suspended  over  it. 

Parisian  attention  to  detail  is  well  illustrated  in  the  exhibit  which  is 
made  of  the  ways  and  means  of  supplying  the  city  with  water,  and  the 
amount  that  has  been  consumed  annually  for  the  past  twenty-two  years. 

From  the    Schools  of  France. 
In  the  school  exhibit  there  is  shown  the  progress  made  in  three 


534  ARTS   AND   INDUSTRIES   OF   FRANCE. 

branches  of  schools — the  schools  that  would  correspond  to  this  country's 
primary  grade,  supported  by  the  towns  ;  the  next,  or  academic  grade, 
drawing  its  support  from  the  department,  and  the  higher  grades  sup- 
ported by  the  government.  In  the  latter,  architecture,  painting,  music 
and  many  other  branches,  tabooed  by  the  anti-faddists  of  America,  are 
taught  and  the  work  that  is  on  exhibition  would  indicate  that  they  are 
taught  successfully.  One  exhibit  that  is  made  is  that  of  a  printing  and  r 
book-binding  school  in  which  pupils  enter  at  about  12  years  of  age  and 
graduate  about  four  years  later.  Some  of  the  work  of  the  graduating  class 
of  1892  is  shown,  and  it  is  entitled  to  high  commendation.  The  pupils 
do  all  of  the  mechanical  work  incidental  to  the  publishing  of  a  book, 
and  the  samples  of  their  work  shown  are  models  of  typographical  art. 

The  French  Building. 

In  addition  to  the  pavilion  in  the  Manufactures  and  Liberal  Arts 
Building,  already  described,  there  is  a  French  Building  beautifully 
located  at  the  extreme  northeastern  point  of  the  park,  close  to  the  sea 
wall  which  protects  the  park  from  the  waves  of  the  lake.  There  is  no 
prettier  portion  of  the  grounds  than  the  sweep  of  the  lake  shore  from 
Victoria  House  at  the  southern  end  to  the  French  Building  at  the  other 
end  of  the  slight  curve  which  follows  the  form  of  the  shore  line.  The 
French  Building  is  in  two  parts.  One  is  devoted  to  the  city  of  Paris — 
and  in  popular  opinion  Paris  is  fully  half  of  France.  The  other  portion 
is  occupied  by  an  exhibit  which  is  made  by  the  French  government. 
Connecting  the  two  parts  of  the  building  there  is  a  semi-circular 
passage-way,  with  its  one  wall  covered  with  sketches  familiar  to  all  who 
have  seen  the  sights  of  Paris.  The  other  side  is  open  and  supported 
by  columns. 

Of  the  sketches  on  the  wall  of  this  promenade  there  are  many  from 
the  easels  of  well-known  French  artists,  including  Pierre  Vauthier,  M. 
Bouvard,  who  aside  from  being  an  artist  of  some  reputation,  is  also  the 
inspector  general  of  architecture  for  the  city,  Jules  Didier  and  others. 
To  those  who  are  interested  in  Paris,  this  promenade  is  the  most 
interesting  part  of  the  display,  for  there  pictures  of  places  that  are 
famous  and  familiar  to  all  who  have  read  anything  of  French  history 
are  on  exhibition. 

No  attempt  has  been  made  to  make  this  exhibit  of  pictures  one  of 
elaborate  works  of  art;  they  are  simply  sketches  of  familiar  scenes, 
framed  in  plain  wood,  so  that  if  the  summer  storms  should  blow  the 
rain  over  them  the  damage  would  not  be  of  much  consequence.  One  of 
the  most  attractive  of  the  paintings  is  "Avenue  des  Champs  Elysees," 


ARTS   AND   INDUSTRIES   OF   FRANCE.  535 

brilliant  with  gay  equipages.  Another  from  the  same  artist,  Jules 
Didier,  is  a  faithful  reproduction  of  a  morning  scene  in  "Place  de  la 
Bastile."  Pierre  Vauthier  has  a  sketch  of  the  "  Bois  de  Boulogne,"  into 
which  he  has  cleverly  introduced  types  of  French  femininity,  graduated 
up  from  the  little  girl  in  a  pretty  pinafore  through  the  seven  ages  to  the 
old — but  a  French  woman  never  grows  old. 

Interesting  Relics  of  Lafayette. 

To  the  patriotic  American  there  is  magic  in  the  name  of  Lafayette. 
The  United  States  shares  with  France  the  glories  of  his  life,  and  in 
the  national  gallery  of  fame  his  statue  has  a  place  second  only  to 
Washington. 

There  is  nothing  in  the  history  of  the  brave  French  nobleman  that 
does  not  strike  a  responsive  chord  in  the  breast  of  the  American,  and 
the  visitors  to  the  World's  Fair  pay  homage  to  his  memory  in  seeing 
the  mementoes  of  his  connection  with  the  War  of  the  Revolution  which 
are  exhibited  in  the  French  Building.  In  addition  to  the  trophies  now 
owned  by  his  descendants  in  Paris  there  are  a  number  of  interesting 
relics  in  the  way  of  desks  and  chairs  and  writing  utensils. 

A  sword  presented  to  Lafayette  by  the  Continental  Congress  takes 
rank  in  point  of  interest  because  of  its  artistic  merit  and  its  historical 
connection.  After  Lafayette  had  come  to  America  as  a  mere  youth  to 
offer  his  services  to  the  struggling  States  his  patriotic  bravery  soon  won 
him  a  high  place  in  the  estimation  of  Washington,  and  he  was  soon  in 
command  of  the  army  of  the  North.  He  had  arrived  late  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1777,  and  two  years  later  he  returned  to  France  to  solicit  the 
substantial  aid  of  his  country  toward  the  States.  Congress  voted  him  a 
sword,  and  it  was  finished  and  sent  to  France,  where  it  was  formally 
presented,  with  the  thanks  of  Congress,  by  a  grandson  of  Benjamin 
Franklin. 

A  Famous  Sword. 

This  sword  has  the  place  of  honor  in  the  interesting  collection.  Its 
handle  and  mountings  are  of  massive  gold,  and  on  the  knob  there  are 
engraved  two  medallions,  one  representing  a  shield  with  Lafayette's 
arms  and  the  coronet  of  a  Marquis,  the  whole  surmounted  by  a  streamer 
with  the  inscription,  "  Cur  non."  The  other  medallion  represents  the 
rising  glory  of  America  by  means  of  a  continent  illuminated  by  a  rising 
moon.  On  either  side  of  the  handle  is  an  oval  medallion,  one  repre- 
senting America  presenting  a  laurel  crown  to  Lafayette,  and  the  other 
showing  the  British  lion  lying  prostrate  under  his  feet.  There  are  laurel 


536  ARTS   AND  INDUSTRIES   OF   FRANCE. 

crowns  about  the  base  of  the  hilt  and  entwined  about  the  guard.  Four 
medallions  are  engraved  upon  the  guard,  representing  respectively  the 
battles  of  Gloucester  and  Monmouth  and  the  retreats  of  Barren  Hill 
and  Rhode  Island.  This  inscription  is  on  the  front  of  the  guard : 


FROM  THE  AMERICAN  CONGRESS 

TO   THE 

MARQUIS  DE  LAFAYETTE,  1779.    \\ 


The  scabbard  is  mounted  in  gold  also,  and  there  is  a  large  medallion 
on  either  side.  One  of  these  is  left  blank  for  the  monogram  and  coat 
of  arms  of  the  recipient,  but  it  was  left  as  originally  presented.  The 
obverse  side  represents  Fame  on  the  wing  crossing  the  ocean  in  advance 
of  the  frigate  which  carried  Lafayette.  In  one  hand  she  holds  a 
trumpet  with  which  to  proclaim  to  Europe  the  heroic  deeds  of  Lafay- 
ette, and  in  the  other  the  crown  awarded  to  him  by  America. 

The  original  blade  is  gone.  When  the  reign  of  terror  broke  out  in 
France,  Lafayette  hid  this  precious  sword  for  safe-keeping  in  his  garden, 
Chavagniac,  and  when  it  was  taken  up  it  was  found  that  the  blade  had 
so  rusted  as  to  be  unfit  for  further  use.  The  people  of  Paris  presented 
him  a  new  blade  for  the  sword  in  recognition  of  his  good  work  during 
the  Revolution.  This  blade  was  forged  out  of  a  piece  of  steel  which 
once  formed  a  part  of  the  Bastile. 

At  the  time  of  the  last  visit  of  Lafayette  to  this  country  in  1824  he 
visited  the  tomb  of  Washington.  He  descended  alone  into  the  tomb 
with  uncovered  head,  and  when  he  came  out  his  face  was  bathed  in  tears 
and  he  was  so  overcome  with  emotion  that  he  could  not  speak.  At  that 
moment  he  was  presented  by  Mr.  Custis  with  a  ring  which  contained  a 
lock  of  Washington's  hair.  Another  ring  which  Lafayette  possessed 
contained  a  lock  of  Martha  Washington's  hair.  Both  of  these  are  ex- 
hibited along  with  the  decoration  of  the  Order  of  Cincinnatus  presented 
to  Lafayette  by  General  Washington. 

Other  Interesting  Souvenirs. 

The  souvenirs  of  General  Lafayette  in  relation  to  the  war  of  inde- 
dependence  are  both  numerous  and  interesting.  An  autograph  letter 
from  the  French  general  to  Washington  written  October  14,  1777,  was 
returned  to  the  writer  after  the  death  of  the  president,  by  the  latter's 
family.  It  was  the  first  letter  Lafayette  indited  to  the  commander  of 
the  American  army.  Plans  of  battlefields  in  which  the  Frenchman  par- 
ticipated ;  the  sword  of  honor  presented  by  Congress,  together  with  the 


ARTS   AND   INDUSTRIES   OF   FRANCE.  537 

letter  written  by  Benjamin  Franklin  that  accompanied  it,  Lafayette's 
reply  ;  autograph  letter  of  President  James  Monroe  to  General  Lafayette 
dated  at  Washington,  Feb.  8,  1824;  sword  of  honor  presented  by  the 
officers  of  the  Ninth  regiment,  New  York  artillery,  Sept.  10,  1824,  are 
shown.  One  relic  that  provokes  a  smile  is  a  malacca  cane  bearing  the 
following  inscription : 


PRESENTED  TO 

GENERAL  LAFAYETTE 

BY    A  FULL-BLOODED  YANKEE 


AS  A  TOKEN  OF    RESPECT  FOR 
SERVICES  RENDERED  AMERICA        0 
IN  HER  STRUGGLES  FOR  INDE- 
PENDENCE. 

jgooooooooooooooooocxDoooooeooogg 


Of  other  souvenirs  of  the  war  of  independence  in  addition  to  those 
already  named  are  portraits  of  General  d'Aboville,  who  commanded  the 
artillery  at  the  capture  of  Yorktown,  and  one  of  Count  de  Viomenil, 
who  also  rendered  gallant  service  in  the  cause  of  American  liberty ;  a 
plan  of  the  siege  of  Yorktown ;  tapestries  illustrating  the  battles  of 
Pensacola,  of  Brimstone  Hill  and  of  the  taking  of  Yorktown  ;  together 
with  many  gold  and  bronze  medals  commemorating  various  events  of 
common  interest  to  France  and  the  young  republic  of  America. 

Relics  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte. 

Relics  of  the  Bonaparte  family,  carrying  with  them  a  story  of  devotion, 
misfortune  and  exile,  were  received  by  the  Illinois  Woman's  Board  from 
Avon,  111.,  and  installed  in  the  State  Building.  Chief  among  them  is  an 
"  Ecce  Homo,"  believed  to  be  the  work  of  Raphael. 

The  history  of  the  collection  dates  back  to  the  time  when  King 
Joseph  and  Queen  Julie  Bonaparte  took  Theresa  Gallet,  wife  of  Gabriel 
Gallet,  into  their  household  as  nurse  for  their  daughter  Zenaide.  Mme. 
Gallet  served  the  Bonapartes  for  twenty-two  years,  and  as  chaperone 
accompanied  the  Princess  Charlotte  to  America  in  1821,  during  the  exile 
of  Joseph  Bonaparte. 

After  the  marriage  of  the  princess  Mme.  Gallet  lived  at  Sur  Villiers, 
one  of  the  king's  estates.  Meanwhile  her  son  moved  to  America,  finally 
settling  near  the  present  site  of  Avon,  111.  Here  he  was  visited  by  his 
parents,  who  found  themselves  unable  to  serve  the  fallen  Bonapartes 
and  concluded  to  remain  with  their  son.  Mme.  Gallet  brought  with  her 
many  interesting  and  valuable  relics  of  the  Bonaparte  family,  chief  among 
them  being  the  painting  of  the  head  of  Christ,  which  was  presented  to 


538  ARTS   AND   INDUSTRIES   OF   FRANCE. 

Mme.  Gallet  by  King  Joseph  at  Naples  in  1808.  She  also  received, 
until  her  death,  an  annuity  from  Queen  Julie,  which  in  later  years  was 
paid  by  Joseph,  son  of  Princess  Zenaide.  In  the  meantime  a  daughter, 
Mile.  Amanda  Gallet,  had  married  M.  Eloy  Mailliard,  who  was  also  in 
the  employ  of  King  Joseph.  They  accompanied  Joseph  to  America, 
remaining  with  him  about  three  years.  Six  children  were  born  to  M. 
and  Mme.  Mailliard.  In  1841  they  came  to  America  and  settled  near 
Avon. 

Many  other  relics  are  shown  in  this  collection,  which  is  one  of  the 
most  interesting  seen  at  Chicago. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 
Spain,  Italy  and  the  Columbus  Relics. 

THE  building  erected  by  the  Spanish  Government  at  the  World's 
Columbian  Exposition  is  a  three-fourths    reproduction  of  a 
section  of  the  Silk  Exchange  at  Valencia,  Spain.      The  erec- 
tion of  this  building  was  commenced  in   1492,  previous  to  the 
departure  of  Columbus'  fleet.    The  section  shown  represents  the  column- 
hall  and  the  tower,  wherein  all  defaulting  and  bankrupt  merchants  were 
confined.     Eight  large  columns  2^  feet  in  diameter  support  the  roof  of 
column-hall.     A  circular  stairway,  approached  from  an  inside  entrance, 
is  the  means  of  reaching   the  top  of  the  tower.     This  building  has  a 
frontage  of  84  feet  and  6  inches  and  a  depth  of  about  95  feet.     The 
height  of  the  main  building  is  about  50  feet,  the  tower  rising  to  the 
height  of  about  65   feet.       Rafael  Gaustavino,  New  York  City,  is  the 
architect  of  this  building. 

It  is  occupied  by  the  officers  of  the  Spanish  Commission  and  as  a 
reception-room  for  visitors.  Many  relics  of  Columbus  are  shown  in  this 
structure ;  some  of  his  letters,  a  sword  that  belonged  to  his  beautiful 
and  magnanimous  patron,  Isabella,  also  one  wielded  by  Cortez  in  his 
conquest  of  Mexico  ;  ancient  Spanish  artillery,  ammunition,  etc. 

The  ladies  of  Spain,  organized  under  the  presidency  of  her  Majesty, 
the  Queen,  prepared  a  representative  exhibit.  They  collected  the 
greatest  possible  number  of  objects  that  are  the  result  of  the  intellectual, 
artistic  and  industrial  work  of  Spanish  women.  They  sent  specimens 
of  books,  pamphlets,  journalistic  collections,  articles  and  manuscripts 
written  or  published  by  women  either  in  Castilian  or  any  other  dialect 
spoken  in  the  peninsula  or  in  its  possessions ;  also  the  musical  composi- 
tions, original  paintings  in  oil,  pastel,  water  color,  drawings ;  sculpture, 
carvings,  engravings,  plans,  maps  and  scientific  instruments  and  ap- 
paratus that  are  the  inventions  of  women. 

Achievements  of  Spanish  Women. 

The  educational  section  of  the  exhibit  possesses  an  unusual  interest, 
especially  to  American  women,  since  it  aims  to  show  clearly  the  state  of 
female  education  in  Spain  and  its  dependencies  in  all  its  different  grades, 
from  the  primary  and  the  elementary  instruction  to  the  higher,  as  well  as 

539 


540 


SPAIN,   ITALY,   AND   THE   COLUMBUS   RELICS. 


institutions  controlled  by  the  government,  and  private  establishments, 
such  as  convents,  colleges,  asylums,  and  benevolent  institutions.  They 
also  show  the  benevolent  work  of  women  and  the  organization  and 
operation  of  religious  associations. 

The  domestic  life  of  Spanish  women  is  also  shown  and  the  cares  and 
duties  which  devolve  on  mothers  with  families ,  the  ideas  of  hygiene, 
domestic  training  and  education ;  the  nourishment  and  dress  of  young 
children,  the  form  of  cradles  and  cribs,  infants'  clothing,  juvenile  games, 
and  exercises ;  historical  habits  and  customs  relating  to  the  home  life. 
Another  interesting  display  made  by  the  women  of  this  country  is  an 


CONVENT   OF   SANTA   MARIA    DE   LA    RABIDA. 

illustration  of  religious  communities  of  women  established  in  Spain,  their 
history,  privileges,  merits,  indicating  their  character,  whether  devotional, 
educational  or  charitable.  There  are  exhibits  of  all  industrial  work 
done  by  women,  particularly  in  the  preparation  of  tobacco  in  the  govern- 
ment manufactories,  or  the  tasks  they  perform  in  private  factories  and 
workshops,  and  in  the  salting  and  curing  industry.  It  is  evident  that 
in  the  heavier  forms  of  labor  and  outdoor  employments  the  women  of 
Europe  are  largely  occupied. 

The  Famous  Convent  of  La  Rabida. 

Across  the  south  inlet  of  Agricultural  Hall,  facing  the  horizon  of 
Lake  Michigan,  stands  a  modest  red  roofed  building  which  every  visitor 
of  the  Fair  finds  extremely  interesting.  This  is  the  Monastery  of  La 
Rabida,  a  fac-simile  of  that  ancient  and  famous  structure  which  is  more 
closely  associated  with  the  career  of  Columbus  than  any  other  building. 
It  is  a  quaint  affair  and  resembles  more  than  anything  else  in  this 
country  a  Mexican  adobe  church. 


SPAIN,  ITALY,  AND  THE  COLUMBUS   RELICS.  541 

The  original  monastery  stands  on  the  summit  of  a  low  headland, 
between  the  Odiel  and  Pinto  Rivers,  near  the  town  of  Palos,  Spain. 
Tradition  says  that  it  was  originally  erected  during  the  reign  of  the 
Roman  Emperor  Hadrian,  in  the  second  century.  There  are  historical 
records  in  existance  showing  that  it  was  reconstructed  in  the  eleventh 
century  by  the  Knights  Templar,  who  occupied  it  as  a  fortress.  The 
name  La  Rabida  signifies  in  Moorish  language  an  outpost  on  the 
frontier. 

The  building  passed  into  the  possession  of  the  Franciscan  monks 
when  the  Moors  were  driven  from  Andalusia.  They  again  remodeled 
it  and  christened  it  Santa  Maria  de  La  Rabida,  or  the  Monastery  of  St. 
Mary  of  the  Frontier.  It  was  considerably  enlarged  after  the  death  of 
Columbus,  but  has  recently  been  restored  to  its  original  condition  by 
the  Spanish  Government. 

It  may  be  remembered  that  Columbus'  first  visit  to  La  Rabida  is  fixed 
by  some  authorities  in  1484  or  1485,  shortly  after  he  left  Portugal  and 
while  on  his  way  to  Moquer,  a  small  village,  where  he  intended  to  leave 
his  son,  Diego.  Weary,  hungry,  and  penniless,  he  begged  food  for 
himself  and  his  child  at  the  monastery  door.  Not  only  did  the  monks 
shelter  him,  but,  becoming  interested  in  his  plans,  gave  him  letters  to 
influential  persons  at  court. 

Grand  Admiral  of  the  Ocean. 

He  next  appeared  at  La  Rabida  several  years  later,  when  he  was 
about  to  leave  Spain  to  seek  aid  either  from  the  King  of  France  or  the 
Republic  of  Genoa  or  Venice.  For  the  second  time  he  experienced 
courtesy  and  consideration  at  the  hands  of  the  monks.  His  third  visit 
was  paid  in  May,  1492,  when  he  returned  bearing  the  contract  with  the 
sovereigns  of  Spain,  a  commission  of  Grand  Admiral  of  the  Ocean, 
with  royal  requisition  from  the  people  of  Palos  to  furnish  him  with  ves- 
sels and  supplies  for  the  voyage.  His  last  appearance  at  the  monastery 
was  upon  his  return  to  Palos,  bearing  news  and  trophies  of  his  triumph, 
in  celebration  of  which  the  monks  sang  a  Te  Deum  in  their  chapel. 
There  he  remained  as  a  guest  until  summoned  to  court. 

This  is  in  brief  the  story  of  the  old  monastery.  The  new  one,  while 
it  does  not  reach  so  far  back  into  antiquity,  is  none  the  less  interesting. 
It  is  reproduced  by  the  directors  of  the  Exposition  as  a  shelter  for  the 
relics  of  Columbus  that  have  been  secured  for  the  Fair. 

Most  visitors  approaching  the  rock-bound  little  promontory  on  which 
La  Rabida  stands  enter  it  by  the  portals  of  the  sanctuary,  which  is  as 
nearly  as  possible  like  that  on  which  the  monks  sang  their  hymn  of 


542  SPAIN,    ITALY,   AND   THE   COLUMBUS   RELICS. 

rejoicing  so  many  hundreds  of  years  ago.  It  is  a  long,  low  room, 
roughly  plastered,  with  great  black  beams  that  stand  out  conspicuously 
in  contrast  with  the  universal  whiteness.  The  altar,  which  is  in  charge 
of  the  Franciscan  monks,  has  been  fitted  up  by  them  to  reproduce  the 
altar  of  the  original  monastery.  Two  of  the  most  conspicuous  objects 
in  it  are  a  battered  wooden  cross  that  was  erected  by  Columbus  on  his 
arrival  in  America,  and  a  little  worm-eaten  door  taken  from  the  convent. 

Rare   Paintings  and   Mosaics. 

In  old  cases  arranged  along  the  sides  of  the  room  are  valuable  manu- 
scripts once  owned  by  Columbus  and  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Duke 
and  Duchess  of  Alba,  who  loaned  them  through  the  Spanish  Govern- 
ment to  the  Exposition.  Portraits  of  Columbus,  together  with  a  large 
collection  of  quaint  paintings  on  wood  and  rare  mosaics,  loaned  from  the 
Vatican  by  the  Pope,  are  hung  upon  the  walls.  An  interesting  feature 
of  the  room  is  the  canoes,  roughly  constructed  from  great  logs  of  wood, 
in  which  the  Indians  are  said  to  have  gone  out  to  meet  Columbus' 
caravel  on  his  approach  to  this  continent. 

Approached  by  a  flight  of  low  steps  from  the  sanctuary  are  the 
cloisters  of  the  monastery.  These,  both  lower  and  upper  rooms,  are 
filled  with  relics  of  Columbus,  admirably  arranged  in  sections,  showing 
the  geographical  knowledge  and  the  science  of  navigation  at  the  time  of 
Columbus,  the  birth,  boyhood,  and  early  life  of  Columbus,  scenes 
associated  with  his  first,  second  and  third  voyages,  the  christening  of  the 
New  World,  and  the  last  days  of  the  great  discoverer. 

Among  the  most  interesting  of  the  fac-similes  in  the  first  section  is 
that  of  the  terrestrial  globe  made  by  Martin  Beheim.  This  bears  date 
1492,  and  is  made  of  pasteboard,  covered  with  parchment.  It  is  about 
twenty-one  inches  in  diameter,  and  on  it  are  designed  historical  pictures 
with  their  legends  written  in  old  German.  The  first  meridian  passes 
through  Madeira,  and  the  only  other  lines  on  it  are  those  of  the  equator 
and  the  two  tropics  and  the  polar  circle.  It  was  executed  by  Beheim 
while  on  a  visit  to  his  native  city,  Nuremburg,  after  a  sojourn  of  five 
years  in  the  Azores.  In  the  same  room  are  various  maps,  showing  the 
world  as  it  is,  together  with  a  chart  showing  it  as  Columbus  thought  it 
to  be. 

Relics  of  Queen  Isabella. 

Several  relics  connected  with  the  Court  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  are 
shown  in  one  of  the  cells.  In  a  case  with  several  valuable  manuscripts 
is  placed  the  fac-simile  of  Isabella's  golden  sword  and  a  fac-simile  of 


SPAIN,   ITALY,   AND   THE   COLUMBUS   RELICS.  543 

her  will.  Views  of  the  Alhambra,  of  the  Castle  at  Medina  del  Campo,  in 
which  Isabella  died,  are  hung  about  the  walls. 

To  those  who  care  to  make  a  study  of  the  boyhood  of  Columbus 
nothing  is  of  greater  interest  than  the  views  of  the  harbor  and  City  of 
Genoa,  of  the  University  of  Pavia,  of  the  church  at  Lisbon,  and  other 
scenes  connected  with  his  youth.  A  quaint  picture  is  that  of  the  house 
at  Quinto,  where  the  father  and  mother  of  Columbus  were  married  and 
lived.  This  house  is  still  standing  and  is  owned  by  Giuseppe  Piaggio 
and  occupied  by  several  peasant  families.  The  house  in  Genoa,  where 
Columbus  is  said  to  have  been  born,  is  also  shown.  It  is  one  of  a  long 
series  in  a  narrow  street,  and  over  the  door  is  placed  the  inscription  : 
"  No  house  better  deserves  an  inscription.  This  is  the  paternal  home  of 
Christopher  Columbus,  where  he  passed  his  childhood  and  youth." 
The  church  of  Porto  Santo  has  connected  with  it  the  romance  of 
Columbus'  life.  There  he  met  Felipa  at  mass,  and  there  he  is  supposed 
to  have  been  married  to  her.  Near  it  hang,  appropriately  enough, 
pictures  of  the  house  occupied  by  Columbus  and  his  wife  at  Funchal, 
Madeira  Islands. 

A  table  made  of  wood  taken  from  his  house  and  loaned  by  Dr.  Jose 
Leite  Monterio  is  also  in  the  cloister.  This  has  something  of  a  story. 
The  house  from  which  the  table  was  taken  was  built  in  1457  an<^  was 
the  property  of  John  Esmeraldo,  a  wealthy  Genoese,  who  went  to 
Funchal  in  1480.  After  his  death  the  house  fell  into  ruins,  and  in  1877 
what  was  left  of  it  was  removed.  Dr.  Monterio  purchased  all  the  wood 
in  the  building,  and  among  other  things  had  this  table  made.  Relics 
that  have  a  certain  kinship  with  this  are  a  cane  and  paper  knife,  a 
kitchen  door,  two  double  doors,  window  shutters,  and  a  lock  and  key 
taken  from  the  house  occupied  by  Columbus  at  Porto  Santo  shortly 
after  his  marriage. 

Historic  Paintings. 

In  connection  with  the  first  voyage  of  Columbus  perhaps  the  most 
striking  object  in  the  collection  is  the  caravel  Santa  Maria,  as  repro- 
duced by  the  Spanish  Government.  But  from  an  artistic  point  of  view 
the  paintings  in  this  section  are  of  even  greater  importance.  Among 
them  is  that  of"  Columbus  taking  leave  of  Father  Perez  de  Marchana," 
the  morning  of  August  3,  1492,  the  original  of  which  is  in  the  convent 
of  La  Rabida;  "The  Departure  of  Columbus  on  his  Voyage  to 
America,"  by  Gisbert;  "  The  First  Cry  of  Land,"  by  Frederick  Strasser, 
loaned  by  Carl  Paxis  ;  "  The  Landing  of  Columbus,"  by  Puevla,  the 
original  of  which  is  in  the  National  Museum  at  Madrid;  another 


544 


SPAIN,   ITALY,  AND   THE  COLUMBUS   RELICS. 


"  Landing  of  Columbus,"  by  Vanderlin,  the  original  of  which  is  in  the 
Capitol  at  Washington ;  "  The  Caravel  of  Columbus  during  the  Great 
Tempest  on  the  First  Voyage,"  by  J.  C.  Ainasoffsky,  Professor  of  the 
Imperial  Academy  of  Fine  Arts  at  St.  Petersburg,  Russia ;  "  The 
Discoverer's  Welcome,"  from  an  old  print,  and  "  The  Presentation  of 
Columbus  to  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  on  his  Return  from  his  First 
Voyage,"  by  A.  De  Veria. 


THE    ROLLING-CHAIR    STAND. 

Other  pictures  in  the  same  section  are  "  The  Triumphal  Entrance  of 
Columbus  into  Barcelona,"  by  II.  F.  Plubbemann ;  "  The  Reception  of 
Columbus  after  his  Return  from  His  First  Voyage,"  the  original 
of  which  is  by  Robert  Fleury ;  "  The  Reception  of  Columbus  by  the 
Spanish  Sovereigns,"  a  copy  of  R.  Balaca's  picture ;  and  "  The  Recep- 
tion of  Columbus,"  from  an  original  in  the  Circle  of  Fine  Arts,  Madrid, 
Spain.  Among  the  curiosities  of  this  section  may  be  classed  a  queer 
old  print  of  Indians  on  the  back  of  a  whale,  taken  from  "  Philopono's 
Voyage  to  the  New  World  of  the  Western  Indies."  Sailors  returning 
from  the  New  World  reported  that  they  had  seen  in  its  waters  fishes  s"o 
large  that  a  caravel  could  be  floated  on  their  backs  or  that  an  altar 


SPAIN,    ITALY,   AND   THE   COLUMBUS   RELICS.  545 

could  be  erected  and  mass  said  upon  them.  The  story  was  retold  with 
variations,  and  finally  the  veracious  priest,  Philopono,  related  the  tale  as 
an  actual  fact  and  gave  illustrations  of  how  the  caravels  had  been  carried 
about  by  whales  and  mass  celebrated  upon  their  backs. 

Treasures   of  Art. 

Other  relics  connected  with  Columbus'  visit  to  the  West  Indies  are  a 
coco  Mascaque  stick  cut  near  the  site  of  La  Navidad,  Hayti,  where  a 
fortress  was  erected  by  Columbus  in  1492;  a  cane  of  native  wood, 
tipped  with  horn,  old  sabre  used  in  the  revolution  in  Santa  Domingo, 
and  an  aboriginal  seat  from  Caicos  Islands,  Bahamas,  loaned  by  the 
United  States  National  Museum  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Several  fine  paintings  of  scenes  associated  with  the  second  voyage  of 
Columbus  are  included  in  the  display  at  La  Rabida.  Prof.  J.  C.  Aina- 
soffsky  contributes  "  The  Second  Arrival  of  Columbus  in  the  New 
World ;  "  H.  F.  Pluddemann,  "  Columbus  at  the  Ruins  of  Navidad '' 
and  "A  Fight  between  Spaniards  and  Indians."  Most  of  the  relics 
from  Santo  Domingo  are  placed  in  a  long,  low  room  in  the  northern 
wing  of  the  cloister.  Here  is  a  pile  of  stone  that  represents  all  that 
remains  of  the  first  city  in  the  New  World,  having  been  taken  from 
Isabella  in  San  Domingo,  which  is  now  a  waste  of  scarcely  discernible 
ruins.  An  etching  of  Isabella  by  Henry  R.  Blaney,  of  Boston,  Mass., 
shows  how  the  city  founded  by  Columbus  in  1493  looked. 

The  first  bell  that  was  rung  in  the  New  World  is  preserved  in  one  of 
the  cases  in  the  Santo  Domingo  room.  This  was  presented  to  the 
church  at  Isabella  by  King  Ferdinand.  It  is  a  small  bronze  bell  of 
excellent  workmanship,  eight  inches  high  and  six  and  a  half  inches  in 
diameter.  It  bears  upon  the  surface  the  image  of  St.  Michael,  to  whom 
the  church  was  dedicated,  and  the  letter  "  F  "  inscribed  in  old  Gothic, 
as  a  reminder  of  the  donor. 

The  Old  Bell  Found. 

In  1494,  after  the  discovery  of  gold  in  the  Mountains  of  Cibao, 
everything  transportable  was  removed  from  the  old  to  the  new  town, 
including  the  bell,  which  was  hung  in  the  tower  of  the  chapel  at 
La  Vega,  and  remained  there  until  the  place  was  destroyed  by  an  earth- 
quake in  1564,  and  the  survivors  built  a  third  town  near  by.  More 
than  300  years  after  a  shepherd  who  was  poking  around  among  the  ruins 
found  in  a  mass  of  vines  that  covered  the  old  church  this  same  bell, 
which  had  thus  been  preserved  under  the  masses  of  masonry  and  earth 
that  had  been  overturned  by  the  convulsion.  The  bell  was  taken  to 

35 


540  SPAIN,   ITALY,   AND   THE   COLUMBUS   RELICS. 

Santo  Domingo  and  has  since  been  kept  as  a  relic  in  a  church  there. 
Other  bells  in  the  Santo  Domingo  room  are  the  ancient  hawk's  bells, 
which  were  brought  over  by  Columbus  and  the  early  Spaniards  for 
traffic  with  the  natives.  These  were  found  in  the  ruins  of  a  house  in 
Vega  Vieja  which  was  destroyed  by  the  earthquake  of  1564.  These 
bells  were  valued  by  the  Indians  on  account  of  the  music  they  made 
when  fastened  to  their  wrists  and  ankles,  and  when  Columbus  first 
began  the  enslavement  of  the  Indians  he  made  each  one  bring  in  as  his 
share  of  tribute  a  hawk's  bell  full  of  gold  dust  every  month.  Frag- 
ments of  chain  armor,  old  spurs,  handcuffs,  saddle  beaks,  a  bronze 
stirrup,  old  Toledo  blades,  lance  heads,  old  Spanish  bricks,  stone  from 
the  ruins  of  Vega  Vieja,  ancient  Moorish  titles,  a  cross  from  La  Vega, 
a  dish  used  in  gold  washing,  terra  cotta  figures,  old  wooden  images,  a 
mahogany  paddle,  a  native  canoe,  an  Indian  mortar  and  pestle  are 
among  the  interesting  old  things  that  find  a  place  in  this  room. 

The  Chains  He  Wore. 

An  object  that  attracts  the  attention  of  almost  every  visitor  to  La 
Rabida  is  a  rusty  iron  anchor  found  on  the  coast  of  Trinidad.  This  is 
believed  to  have  been  one  of  Columbus'  own  anchors,  which  was  left 
there  on  his  third  voyage.  In  connection  with  this,  his  third  venture 
across  the  ocean,  the  autograph  letter  of  Francisco  Roldan,  1502,  is  a 
valuable  relic.  This  caused  Columbus  to  be  disgraced  and  brought 
home  from  San  Diego  in  chains  on  account  of  the  serious  charges 
Roldan  made  against  Columbus  in  it.  Photographs  of  chains  belonging 
to  Cavalier  G.  Baldi  of  Genoa  are  also  given  space  on  the  walls'.  These 
chains  are  claimed  to  be  the  same  placed  upon  Columbus  by  Bobadilla. 
Cavalier  Baldi  states  that  the  chains  were  removed  from  the  coffin 
before  burial  by  the  people  of  the  cabin  in  which  he  died,  and  secreted 
for  many  years  by  the  family  of  the  latter,  from  whose  descendants  he 
obtained  them.  These  chains  weigh  seven  pounds  and  eight  ounces 
and  are  divided  in  four  parts.  On  the  fetters  and  handcuffs  are  inscrip- 
tions of  abbreviated  words  and  interpolated  signs  characteristic  of  the 
time.  These  are  interpreted  as  follows  :  "  The  arrow  of  calumny  gave 
three  shackles  to  Don  Christopher  Columbus,  the  dove  that  carried  the 
tidings  of  Christianity  to  the  New  World,  who  died  at  my  house, 
Aposento  Valladolid,  May,  1506,  in  the  peace  of  Christ." 

A  block  of  timber  from  the  house  in  which  Columbus  lived  at  Santo 
Domingo,  a  splinter  from  the  timber  to  which  he  was  chained  in  the 
dungeon  there  are  evidences  of  the  experiences  which  attended  the  dis- 
coverer's third  voyage. 


SPAIN,   ITALY,   AND   THE   COLUMBUS   RELICS.  547 

Views  of  Santo  Domingo,  of  Honduras,  and  of  Puerto  Bello  served  as 
a  sort  of  introduction  to  the  relics  of  his  fourth  and  last  voyage  to  the 
New  World.  The  most  valuable  of  all  these  is  a  letter,  written  by 
Christopher  Columbus  while  preparing  for  his  departure  from  Jamaica, 
to  Ferdinand  and  Isabella.  The  original  Spanish  text  was  discovered 
in  the  King's  library  at  Madrid  by  Navarette  early  in  this  century. 
The  lettet  is  a  jumble  of  incoherent  thoughts,  without  plan  or  purpose, 
and  is  calculated  to  arouse  the  deepest  pity.  In  it  Columbus  reviews 
his  career  in  Spain  and  his  relations  to  the  sovereigns,  recalling  incidents 
of  neglect  and  mortification  which  he  had  experienced. 

A  Gloomy  Room. 

What  is  known  as  the  "  sepulcher  room  "  'by  the  people  who  have  La 
Rabida  in  charge  is  devoted  to  relics  of  the  last  days  and  the  death  of 
Columbus.  This  room,  which  is  on  the  western  side  of  the  building,  is 
hung  with  views  of  the  City  of  Seville,  including  the  Tower  of  Gold,  the 
Alcazar,  and  Convent  of  Cartuja.  The  "  Death  of  Columbus,"  by 
Ortego,  also  has  a  place  here,  together  with  the  picture  of  Robert 
Fleury  and  that  of  Baron  Wappers  on  the  same  subject.  The  house  in 
which  Columbus  died  also  appears  in  a  sketch.  This,  it  may  be  inter- 
esting to  know,  is  still  standing  at  Valladolid,  Spain.  It  is  a  plain 
structure,  its  most  noteworthy  feature,  until  recently,  being  a  sign  over 
the  door,  "  Cows'  and  Asses'  Milk  for  Sale  Within." 

At  one  end  of  the  sepulcher  room  is  a  little  inclosure  within  which 
are  placed  photographs  of  the  Cathedral  of  Santo  Domingo,  Cathedral 
at  Havana,  showing  the  places  where  the  bones  of  Columbus  are  said  to 
be  deposited.  The  fac  simile  of  the  box  in  which  the  remains  of 
Columbus  were  found  is  also  shown,  together  with  a  fac  simile  of  the 
casket  in  which  his  dust  now  rests.  The  box,  it  may  be  remembered, 
was  found  by  some  workmen  May  14,  1877,  while  the  cathedral  was 
being  restored.  Within  it  were  a  quantity  of  dust,  a  number  of  bones, 
a  portion  of  a  skull,  a  leaden  ball,  and  a  silver  plate  about  two  inches 
long.  The  box  was  of  lead,  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  thick,  eighteen 
inches  long,  about  nine  inches  wide,  and  ten  inches  deep.  On  the  front 
and  one  end  were  two  letters  "  C,'  on  the  other  end  the  letter  "  A," 
which  are  supposed  to  signify  Cristoval  Colon  Admiral.  On  the  other 
side  of  the  silver  plate  were  the  words  :  "  Urn  belonging  to  the  remains 
of  the  first  Admiral,  Christopher  Columbus,  discoverer." 

Dust  of  the  Great  Discoverer. 
The  finest  dust  was  carefully  gathered  up  and  placed  in  a  little  casket 


548  SPAIN,   ITALY,   AND   THE   COLUMBUS   RELICS. 

of  gold  and  crystal  and  placed  back  in  the  lead  chest.  The  latter  was 
sealed  and  then  inclosed  in  an  octagonal  case  of  satin  wood  with  glass 
panels.  All  was  then  placed  in  the  vault  at  the  end  of  the  altar.  In 
1877,  when  the  coffin  was  found  at  Santo  Domingo,  Senor  J.  M. 
Castillo,  who  was  assisting  in  the  work,  took  out  a  pinch  of  the  dust,  a 
portion  of  which  he  gave  to  Mrs.  E.  P.  Sargent  of  New  York  City. 
This  was  inclosed  in  a  crystal  locket,  which  is  also  exhibited. 

A  replica  of  the  doors  that  guard  the  cell  in  which  are  held  the 
alleged  remains  of  Columbus  at  Santo  Domingo,  a  piece  of  altar  rail, 
and  the  fac  simile  of  the  urn  inclosing  the  casket  of  Columbus,  complete 
the  list  of  relics  connected  with  his  burial. 

A  valuable  collection  of  autographs  is  exhibited  in  the  cases.  Among 
them  are  those  of  Bartholomew  Columbus,  Don  Diego  Columbus,  and 
of  Fernando  Columbus.  Letters  written  by  Diego  Columbus  and 
Charles  V.  of  Spain  are  included  in  it.  Interesting,  from  a  modern 
point  of  view,  as  the  immediate  ancestors  of  the  Duke  of  Veragua, 
rather  than  as  the  descendants  of  Christopher  Columbus,  are  portraits 
of  the  former's  great-grandmother,  great-great-grandmother,  grand- 
mother, and  grandfather.  They  are  all  good-looking  people  of  whom 
any  Duke  might  be  proud.  These  are  scattered  about  in  the  general 
collection,  together  with  photographs  of  the  residence  of  the  Duke  at 
Madrid  and  the  grand  stairway  of  his  house  there. 

His  Curious  Signature. 

Autographs  of  Columbus  are  by  no  means  rare.  He  was  a  volumin- 
ous writer,  and  ninety-seven  formal  documents  from  his  pen  either  exist 
or  are  known  to  have  existed.  The  signature  rubric  of  Columbus, 
which  appears  at  the  close  of  all  his  communications,  just  as  the  sign  of 
the  cross  appears  at  the  beginning,  has  never  been  satisfactorily  inter- 
preted. On  many  of  the  letters  shown  at  La  Rabida  it  is  distinct. 
These  include  the  letter  to  Nicolo  Oderigo  and  the  "  Codice  Diploma- 
tico." 

Under  the  section  indicated  in  the  catalogue  as  "  the  publication  of 
the  discovery  "  is  a  fac  simile  of  a  title  page  of  the  first  book  published 
about  America.  It  is  a  plain  pamphlet,  without  an  ornament  or  even  an 
initial  letter,  and  was  evidently  published  in  great  haste.  The  first 
biography  of  Columbus  ever  published  was  printed  as  a  note  to  the  One 
Hundred  and  Nineteenth  Psalm  in  a  polyglot  psalter,  April  7,  1516.  A 
copy  of  the  original  edition  of  this  book  has  been  obtained  for  the 
Columbus  collection  at  the  Exposition. 

The  life  of  Columbus  by  his  son  Fernando,  published  at  Venice  in 


SPAIN,   ITALY,   AND   THE   COLUMBUS   RELICS.  549 

1571,  the  "  Sosmogrophae "  of  Peter  Apianus,  published  in  1524;  the 
first  three  English  books  on  America,  published  in  1511  and  1555  ;  the 
original  copy  of  the  first  edition  of  the  book  that  christened  America, 
are  included  in  this  section.  The  last  is  loaned  by  Charles  F.  Gunther 
of  Chicago,  and  fac- similes  of  several  of  its  important  pages  are  shown 
with  it.  This  book  was  published  in  1507  at  Saint  Die,  a  village  in 
Southeastern  Loraine.  Views  of  the  village,  the  monastery  and  the 
cloister  in  it,  its  church,  its  coat  of  arms,  the  house  where  the  book  was 
published,  are  represented  by  quaint  old  drawings  and  prints. 

His  Original  Commission. 

The  Duke  of  Veragua  loaned  to  the  monastery  a  large  and  valuable 
collection  of  original  papers  pertaining  to  Columbus.  Among  them  is 
a  letter  from  the  King  of  Portugal  to  Christopher  Columbus,  the  original 
commission  given  to  Columbus  by  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  upon  his 
departure  on  his  first  voyage,  a  long  list  of  royal  letters  patent  from  the 
sovereigns  of  Spain,  a  letter  from  Queen  Isabella  to  Columbus,  inclosing 
a  copy  of  a  book  which  he  had  left  with  her,  asking  him  to  send  her  a 
certain  sailing  chart  and  urging  him  not  to  delay  his  departure.  The 
will  of  Christopher  Columbus  is  also  included  in  this  collection,  as  well 
as  a  letter  of  Columbus  to  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  concerning  the 
colonization  and  commerce  of  the  Island  of  Hispaniola. 

Even  more  interesting  than  the  papers  loaned  by  the  duke  are  those 
which  the  monastery  has  obtained  through  the  kindness  of  the  Duchess 
of  Berwick  and  Alba,  also  a  descendant  of  the  great  Columbus.  The 
original  capitulation  of  Columbus  Avith  the  Spanish  sovereigns,  the 
original  autographic  statement  by  Columbus  of  gold  brought  from 
America  and  sold  by  him  in  Castile,  the  original  draft  of  letters  by 
Columbus  relating  to  his  claims  and  privileges,  and  an  autograph  letter 
of  Columbus  to  the  Catholic  Kings  are  among  these. 

The  Vatican  Exhibit  of  Relics. 

The  Vatican  exhibit  of  relics,  loaned  by  Pope  Leo  in  compliance  with 
a  resolution  of  Congress,  is  also  on  exhibition.  A  letter  from  Pope 
Nicholas  V.  is  one  of  the  most  important  documents  in  this  collection. 
It  is  dated  at  Rome,  Sept.  20,  1448,  and  is  addressed  to  the  Irish  bishops 
of  Skahlolt  and  Holar  concerning  the  church  in  Greenland.  The  bull 
of  Alexander  V.  to  the  Sovereigns  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  dated  May 
3,  1493,  is  in  this  collection.  This  relates  to  the  rivalries  between  Spain 
and  Portugal  in  regard  to  their  voyages  of  discovery. 

Several  bulls  of  Pope  Alexander  VI.,  one  commending  the  discoveries 


550 


SPAIN,    ITALY,   AND   THE   COLUMBUS    RELICS. 


of  CoJumbus  and  the  other  confirming  Father  Boyl,  the  first  missionary 
priest  to  America,  are  in  the  show  cases.  The  papal  bull  relating  to 
Father  Boyl,  who  accompanied  Columbus  on  his  second  voyage,  is  one 


MONUMENT   TO   COLUMBUS   AT   GENOA. 


Of 


of  the   treasured   relics   of  the   Vatican.     Numerous   crude    maps 
America  and  a  number  of  pictures  from  the  Vatican  are  shown. 

The  Pope  has  also  sent  a  beautifully  bound  album  of  fac-simile 
reproductions  of  famous  documents  relating  to  Columbus  now  in  the 
archives  of  the  Vatican.  It  is  bound  in  plush,  and  on  the  outer  cover  is 
placed  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  Pope  wrought  in  solid  gold. 


SPAIN,    ITALY,   AND   THE   COLUMBUS   RELICS.  551 

The  Will  of  Columbus. 

The  documents  are  more  than  a  hundred  in  number,  and  include 
most,  in  fact,  all  of  the  fully  authenticated  original  documents  of 
Christopher  Columbus.  There  is  the  original  commission  from 
Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  dated  Grenada,  April  30,  1492,  appointing 
Columbus  Grand  Admiral  of  the  Ocean  Sea  and  Vice  King  and  Governor 
General  of  all  the  lands  that  he  should  discover. 

One  of  the  quaintest  documents  is  the  original  will  of  Columbus,  in 
which  he  confers  the  right  of  succession  on  his  son,  Diego.  There  are 
from  twenty  to  thirty  autograph  letters  of  Columbus,  written  in  full  by 
him  and  signed  with  his  quaint  and  almost  unintelligible  signature. 
The  papers  are  yellowed  with  their  400  years,  and  their  edges  are  worn 
and  jagged.  In  some  of  them  the  creases  have  made  abrasures  and 
have  broken  the  paper.  The  writing  has  faded  on  some,  but  on  others 
it  is  well  preserved,  and  on  a  few  of  them  the  ink  is  as  clear  as  though 
it  had  been  made  within  recent  years. 

The  Caravels  at  Chicago. 

The  old  Spanish  caravels,  counterparts  of  the  little  craft  which  com- 
posed the  fleet  of  Columbus,  were  objects  of  wonder  as  they  swung  at 
anchor  in  the  lower  bay  of  New  York  before  starting  for  Chicago.  They 
are  certainly  a  queer-looking  trio  of  vessels  for  any  one  to  have  crossed 
the  Atlantic  in,  and  all  those  who  saw  them  can  now  better  appreciate 
the  great  courage  of  the  discoverer  of  America. 

The  Santa  Maria,  with  her  blunt  prow,  high  hull  and  overtopping 
deck  fittings,  is  the  most  conspicuous  of  the  ancient  craft.  She  is  a 
flimsy  floater,  as  all  New  York  seamen  who  saw  her  observed  for  any 
one  to  make  an  ocean  trip  in,  and  the  Spanish  man-of-war's  men  are  of 
the  same  opinion,  for  they  had  a  hard  time  getting  her  through  some  of 
the  seas  along  the  Atlantic  coast,  especially  between  Havana  and 
Hampton  Roads. 

The  Santa  Maria,  the  model  of  the  flagship  of  Columbus,  is  the 
largest  of  the  three  boats.  She  is  seventy-five  feet  long  and  has  a  dis- 
placement of  two  hundred  tons.  The  square-rigged  Pinta,  a  model  of 
the  vessel  commanded  by  Pinzon,  and  the  lateen-rigged  Nina  are  each  of 
one  hundred  tons  displacement.  The  Pinta  is  sixty-five  feet  long  by 
twenty-three  feet  beam.  The  Nina  measures  fifty-six  feet  in  length  and 
has  a  beam  of  only  eighteen  feet.  They  have  high,  spacious  poops,  the 
waist  is  scooped  and  there  is  a  high  deck  forward. 

The  caravels  have  iron  cannon  modelled  after  the  guns  of  Columbus's 


552  SPAIN,    ITALY,   AND   THE   COLUMBUS  RELICS. 

original  fleet.  One  of  the  guns  of  the  latter  fleet  is  still  "  alive,"  and 
may  be  seen  on  the  Santa  Maria.  In  addition,  there  are  broadside  guns 
called  bomboridas  and  falconetas,  mounted  on  the  rails. 

The  Moorish  Palace. 

The  Moorish  palace,  domed  and  turreted,  is  another  Spanish  object 
of  interest.  The  distinctively  Moorish  feature  of  the  place  is  a  repro- 
duction of  a  bit  of  the  Alhambra  in  the  form  of  a  labyrinth,  and  a  series 
ol  mirrors  set  at  angles  produce  the  effect  of  endless  colonnades  capped 
by  graceful  arches  in  gold  and  brilliant  colors.  Reflected  in  the  mirrors 
are  scenes  in  Tangier  and  oriental  figures,  and  the  persistent  visitor  is 
likely  to  stray  upon  a  reproduction  of  an  eastern  harem  in  the  depths  of 
this  confusing  labyrinth.  A  garden  of  palms  presents  a  scene  of  oriental 
picturesqueness,  mirrors  making  endless  vistas  peopled  with  Arabs  and 
other  eastern  people.  A  striking  feature  is  an  apparently  fathomless 
well. 

A  triangular  space  inclosed  with  mirrors  produces  a  remarkable 
illusion.  A  single  figure  is  said  to  be  reflected  back  and  forth  500 
times  and  ten  persons  on  the  little  stage  look  like  a  young  army. 
Below  this  kaleidoscope  is  a  grotto  of  surprisingly  natural  appearance, 
and  a  group  with  his  satanic  majesty  in  the  midst  makes  it  suggestive 
of  hades. 

The  upper  floor  is  given  over  to  a  large  collection  of  wax  figures  rep  • 
resenting  characters  and  scenes  famous  in  history.  The  execution  of 
Marie  Antoinette,  of  France,  is  reproduced  with  a  scaffold  and  a  guillo- 
tine said  to  be  the  identical  articles  used  at  the  memorable  event.  A 
scene  representing  the  assassination  of  Lincoln  shows  Mrs.  Lincoln  in 
her  costume  of  that  night  with  a  glimpse  of  the  stage  beyond.  The 
figures  include  representations  of  most  of  the  kings  and  emperors  of 
Europe,  all  of  whom  are  shown  in  rich  and  correct  copies  of  their  hand- 
some military  uniforms,  and  these  wax  works  are  notable  for  the  absence 
of  the  usual  ghastliness.  There  are  also  groups  representing  various 
humorous  and  sentimental  scenes,  all  with  good  expressions  and  cor- 
rectly costumed. 

The  Princess  Eulalie. 

One  of  Spain's  finest  contributions  to  the  great  Exposition  was  from 
her  royal  family.  Among  the  most  distinguished  foreign  visitors  was 
the  Infanta  Marie  Eulalie,  of  Spain,  who  came  as  the  representative  of 
Christine,  the  queen  regent  of  Spain.  The  daughter  of  a  queen  and  the 
aunt  of  a  king,  she  has  in  her  veins  some  of  the  bluest  blood  in  Europe. 


/     ft     ft  •'*••>  111..  ....;«•*, 

<4  i  )l 


H.    R.    H.    THE   INFANTA    EULALIE   OF   SPAIN. 


553 


554  SPAIN,   ITALY,  AND   THE   COLUMBUS   RELICS. 

Among  her  ancestors  are  to  be  found  the  greatest  monarchs  of  Spain,  and 
the  branches  of  her  family  tree  are  further  made  illustrious  by  the 
names  of  many  crowned  heads  of  France  and  Austria.  When  Columbus 
discovered  America  Infanta  Eulalie's  ancestress  was  a  monarch,  and, 
though  many  vicissitudes  have  befallen  the  royal  family  of  Spain  since 
that  date,  the  link  that  connects  Infanta  Eulalie  with  the  renowned  Isa- 
bella has  never  been  iDroken,  and  she  is  as  truly  a  descendant  of  the 
patroness  of  Christopher  Columbus  as  the  Duke  of  Veragua  is  a  de- 
scendant of  Columbus  himself. 

Daughter  of  a  queen  as  she  is,  however,  her  life  has  not  been  as 
placid  as  the  life  of  a  queen's  daughter  is  popularly  supposed  to  be. 
Born  at  Madrid  February  I2th,  1864,  she  is  the  fifth  child  of  Maria 
Louise  Isabella,  ex-queen  of  Spain,  popularly  known  as  Isabella  II.  At 
the  time  of  her  birth,  Isabella  II.,  her  mother,  was  still  in  the  heyday  of 
her  power.  She  had  then  been  reigning  twenty-one  years  and  had 
proved  herself  to  be  a  monarch  of  vigorous  though  somewhat  erratic 
personality.  On  October  I5th,  1843,  she  was  declared,  by  a  decree  of 
the  Cortes,  to  have  attained  her  majority,  though  she  was  then  only  thir- 
teen years  old,  and  she  at  once  took  her  place  among  the  reigning 
sovereigns,  of  Europe. 

The  next  great  event  in  her  life  was  her  marriage,  which  took  place 
on  October  loth,  1846.  There  were  several  suitors  for  her  hand  and 
one  of  these  Don  Francisco  d'Assisi  won  the  prize.  He  was  Queen 
Isabella's  cousin,  being  the  elder  son  of  her  maternal  uncle,  Don  Fran- 
cisco de  Paula.  Isabella,  as  is  well  known,  had  little  or  no  affection  for 
him,  and  only  married  him  because  her  mother  and  a  clique  of  politicians 
persuaded  her  that  it  was  to  her  own  interest  and  that  of  the  kingdom  to 
do  so.  That  she  had  made  an  irretrievable  mistake  she  soon  saw. 

Exiled   when  a   Child. 

The  ordinary  joys  of  domestic  life  she  never  knew,  and  her  life  with 
Don  Francisco  d'Assisi  was  one  of  alternate  bickerings  and  reconcilia- 
tions. He  liked  quiet,  she  loved  to  surround  herself  with  a  crowd  of 
gay  courtiers.  He  cared  little  for  affairs  of  state,  she^  was  proud  of 
Spain  and  did  what  she  could  to  make  it  great.  He  loved  to  enjoy 
himself  in  a  quiet  manner,  she  was  of  a  temperament  that  abandons  all 
dictates  of  prudence  and  seizes  pleasure  wherever  it  can  be  found,  as  the 
bee  sips  honey  from  every  flower.  Such  was  the  condition  of  the  royal 
household  in  1864,  when  the  Infanta  Eulalie  was  born. 

When  she  was  four  years  old  the  crisis  came.  Isabella's  power  had 
been  gradually  waning,  and  on  September  i6th,  1868,  a  great  revolution 


SPAIN,   ITALY   AND,   THE   COLUMBUS   RELICS.  .  556 

broke  out  in  Spain,  starting  with  the  fleet  off  Cadiz  and  gradually 
spreading  over  the  whole  peninsula.  The  speedy  result  was  the  form- 
ation of  a  republican  provisional  government  under  Premier  Serrano 
and  others  at  Madrid  and  the  flight  of  Queen  Isabella  and  her  family 
to  France.  On  November  6th,  her  majesty  took  up  her  residence  in 
Paris,  and  there  she  remained  during  her  exile,  with  the  exception  of  an 
interval  spent  at  Geneva  during  the  Franco-Prussian  war. 

On  June  25th,  1870,  she  renounced  her  claims  to  the  Spanish  throne 
in  favor  of  her  son,  the  prince  of  the  Asturias,  and  after  eight  years  of 
exile  she  once  more  set  foot  in  Spain,  where  she  was  received  at  San- 
tander  by  her  son,  the  late  King  Alfonso  XII.  She  did  not  remain 
there  long,  however,  and  while  some  maintained  that  she  was  banished 
from  the  country  because  she  conspired  against  the  regent,  Queen 
Maria  Christine,  others  insist  that  the  ex- queen  is  too  good-natured  and 
easy-going  to  conspire  against  anyone,  and  that  if  there  was  any  con- 
spiracy the  blame  must  be  attached  to  Isabella's  unwise  and  hot-headed 
counsellors.  Anyhow,  Isabella  returned  to  Paris,  and  there  she  has  re- 
mained almost  entirely  ever  since. 

The  Opposite  of  her  Mother. 

Isabella  is  stout,  rather  rubicund,  wonderfully  good-natured  and  gen- 
erous and  a  lover  of  the  good  things  of  this  life ;  Eulalie  is  slight,  grace- 
ful, of  an  elegant  carriage  and  not  wont  to  be  carried  away  by  any  sud- 
den outbursts  of  generosity  or  extravagance.  She  has  brown  hair  and 
blue  eyes,  and,  while  not  notable  for  her  physical  beauty,  she  has  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  many  an  observer  by  her  physical  and  intellect- 
ual alertness.  She  has  been  described  as  "  a  woman  who  is  all  nerves," 
and  few  who  have  seen  her  have  failed  to  notice  that  she  is  in  some  re- 
spects exceedingly  impressionable.  She  certainly  is  enthusiastic. 

Prince  Antoine  came  to  this  country  with  his  wife,  being  quite  as 
desirous  to  see  the  World's  Fair  as  she  was.  What  attracted  the  In- 
fanta Eulalie  most  was  the  women's  department,  since  she  is  interested 
in  all  work  done  by  women  and  does  her  best  to  furth  it. 

Columbus  in  Bronze. 

One  of  the  souvenirs  of  the  Exposition  is  a  fac-simile  of  Kretchmar's 
famous  statue  of  Columbus  in  the  Lake  Front  Park.  The  statue  is 
unique  and  sui  generis,  and  is  independent  in  design  and  treatment  of 
any  of  the  standard  representations  of  the  great  Genoese.  The  statue  is 
of  colossal  size,  being  twenty  feet  high.  Ten  tons  of  bronze  were  used 
in  its  casting,  which  was  executed  by  the  American  Bronze  Company. 


SPAIN,   ITALY,   AND   THE   COLUMBUS   RELICS. 


It  represents  the  discoverer  as  he  may  be  supposed  to  have  appeared  when 
he  first  sighted  land.  It  depicts  astonishment,  confusion,  thankfulness,  tri- 
umph— in  fact  a  blending  of  the  emotions.  The  figure  is  garbed  in  a  full  ad- 
mirals' uniform,  carefully  copied  from 
the  prevailing  styles  of  the  period  of 
Columbus'  discovery.  The  great  navi- 
gator has  his  clenched  left  hand  pressed 
to  his  heart,  while  the  right  is  lowered 
and  recedes  slightly.  The  great  coat 
is  thrown  back,  showing  the  tunic, 
belts,  and  sword  of  the  admiral.  The 
expression  of  the  face  is  strong  and 
clearly  defined,  courage,  intellectuality, 
and  benevolence  being  traceable  in 
the  lineaments. 

The  sculptor  shows  the  great  dis- 
coverer just  as  he  may  have  stood  on 
the  deck  of  the  Santa  Maria  when  he 
first  sighted  the  new  world.  The  total 
cost  of  the  monument  was  $40,000, 
for  which  it  is  expected  that  the  Expo- 
sition will  be  more  than  reimbursed 
for  the  sale  of  souvenirs  at  the  Expo- 
sition grounds  growing  out  of  the 
monument  idea.  The  pedestal  is  of 
Maine  granite  and  is  thirty  feet  high 
from  its  base,  which  starts  eight  feet 
above  the  present  level  of  the  Lake 
Front  Park.  This  elevation  of  the 
base  was  made  with  an  idea  that  the  Lake  Front  would  ultimately  be 
graded  up  to  the  east  line  of  the  railroad  tracks,  and  that  the  latter 
would  be  depressed.  The  statue,  with  the  pedestal,  has  a  total  height 
of  fifty  feet.  This  is  said  to  be  the  largest  bronze  statue  in  the  United 
States. 

Sunny  Italy's  "Works  of  Art. 

Italy  is  the  home  of  art,  and  it  is  from  there  we  naturally  look  for  the 
choicest  paintings  and  sculptures.  In  the  collection  are  niur.v  repre- 
sentative reproductions  of  the  art  of  Italy,  including  bronzes,  statuary, 
paintings  and  ornamental  furniture,  for  which  Italian  makers  are  famous 
There  is  also  a  fine  collection  of  water  colors.  Among  the  most  noted 


THE   COLUMBUS    STATUE. 


SPAIN,   ITALY,  AND  THE  COLUMBUS   RELICS.  557 

paintings  in  the  collection  is  one  of  Columbus  by  Professor  Gambrini, 
finished  .after  four  years'  labor.  The  subject  is  handled  in  a  manner 
entirely  new,  and  the  painting  contains  fourteen  figures. 

In  the  large  gallery  in  the  body  of  the  building  are  hung  most  of  the 
canvases  of  large  dimensions.  Corelli's  painting,  "  Ave  Maria,"  repre- 
sents the  Angelus  on  St.  Peter's  day  in  the  fields  on  the  Roman  camp- 
ana.  The  sun  is  setting  in  a  blaze  of  crimson  on  the  horizon  and  a 
crowd  of  laborers  have  ceased  their  work  to  bow  their  heads  in  prayer. 


SPANISH    BUILDING. 

Through  the  broad  plain  runs  an  ancient  Roman  aqueduct.  The  som- 
bre tone  and  the  mysterious  effect  of  twilight  add  much  to  the  impres- 
siveness  of  the  scene. 

Sculpture  of  the  First  Rank. 

Among  the  works  of  sculpture  those  of  Gaetano  Trentanove  hold  a 
place  in  the  first  rank.  His  "  Last  of  the  Spartans  "  is  an  admirable 
figure.  He  has  shown  a  wounded  warrior  lying  on  the  ground  writing 
with  his  blood-stained  finger  on  his  shield  the  words  "  I  conquer."  The 
bronze  busts  by  Antonio  Garella,  representing  Desdemona  and  Othello, 
are  other  creditable  works  found  in  this  room.  The  rotunda  in  the 
center  of  west  pavilion  is  given  up  entirely  to  sculpture.  In  the  center 
is  a  bronze  bust  of  Humbert,  King  of  Italy,  and  around  the  outer  walls 
are  placed  important  works  in  marble,  among  them  De  Paoli's  Icarus 


558  SPAIN,   ITALY,   AND   THE   COLUMBUS   RELICS. 

falling  into  the  sea,  his  wax  wings  melted  by  the  heat  of  the  sun,  and 
the  "  Beggars  "  by  Mattoni. 

In  the  other  rooms  there  are  numerous  small  works  of  statuary, 
among  which  a  number  of  bronzes  by  Troubeskoy,  spirited  and 
sketchily  modeled ;  six  figures  in  marble  representing  the  arts  by 
Bottinetti;  the  figures  of  Arabs  mounted  on  camels  by  Guardielli,  and 
the  robust  "  Transtevernia,"  by  Luzi,  are  most  interesting  examples. 

The  Dying  Lincoln. 

In  the  court  of  the  main  building  is  seen  among  other  works  "  The 
Dying  Lincoln,"  an  important  figure  by  Ferrari,  representing  the  dying 
President  with  the  emancipation  proclamation  resting  on  his  knee.  This 
is  not  strictly  historical,  but  the  work  is  a  strong  one. 

Of  the  remaining  works  in  oil  worthy  of  especial  notice  are  a  group 
of  Venetian  landscapes  by  G.  Ciardi,  most  of  them  views  of  the  lagoons 
and  canals,  showing  delicate  effects  of  light  breaking  through  clouds  on 
the  water,  boats,  or  buildings,  P.  Fragiacamo's  "  Idyl  on  the  Lagoons," 
Tito  Lessis'  highly  finished  interior  of  a  great  library  with  a  number  of 
Louis  XIV.  figures  reading  around  a  large  table,  entitled  "Les 
Bibliophiles ;"  "  In  the  Woods,"  by  Corelli,  and  a  picture  by  Luigi,  "  A 
Reception  at  the  Doge's  Palace."  Other  interesting  works  are  A. 
Savinis'  picture  "  After  Clouds — Sunshine  ;"  "  The  Fortune  Teller,"  by 
Guardabassi,  and  the  works  exhibited  by  Reuben  Santoro,  Oreste  da 
Molin,  and  Antonio  Rotta. 

Venice  by  a  Venetian. 

We  have  had  Venice  painted  in  every  variation  of  high  key,  and  now 
comes  a  Venetian  and  paints  it  in  a  true  key,  which  proves  not  so  high 
at  all.  Guglielmo  Ciardi  received  a  gold  medal  at  the  universal  exposi- 
tion in  1889,  and  is  as  well  known  in  Paris  as  on  the  Adriatic.  He  is 
seen  in  five  beautiful  works  at  Jackson  Park,  all  studies  on  the  bay  and 
in  the  lagoons.  His  "  Southwest  Wind "  is  as  dreamy  as  Guido 
Cavalcanti's  sonnets.  "  Spring  Clouds  "  are  delicate  and  dim  as  half- 
tones on  a  shell.  "The  Sunset  at  Venice,"  instead  of  being  yellow,  like 
pumpkins,  as  too  many  painters  have  depicted  it,  has  a  lovely  dun  mist 
over  sky  and  water,  roofs  and  shipping,  all  permeated  by  a  soft  gold 
turning  to  gray,  as  nature's  scale  actually  turns  in  twilight.  The  entire 
group  of  views  is  a  grateful  surprise  after  the  glare  we  have  usually 
had  from  that  region  when  interpreted  by  half-naturalized  or  wholly 
foreign  painters.  The  finish  of  the  pictures  is  also  noteworthy;  nothing 
is  neglected,  while  nothing  is  out  of  that  majestic  composure  of  nature 
and  Italy  which  only  an  artist  of  inspiration  is  competent  to  paint. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
A  Group  of  European  Nations. 

NATIONAL  representation  by  the  United  States  and  foreign 
countries  is   diversified.     The   principal  nations  of  the  earth 
show  in  all  departments    manufactures    and    raw  material, 
some  in  greater  volume  and  to  a  greater  extent  than  others, 
and  in  addition  they  make  distinctive   national   showings    by    official 
national   buildings.       These   latter    vary   in  their  scope  and  purpose, 
according  to  individual  whim.     The  northeast  end  of  the  Fair  grounds 
is  the  site  for  these  national  structures  emblematic  or  typical  of  the 
countries — administrative,  social,  educational,   ecclesiastical,  industrial, 
or  productive  as  the  case  may  be. 

Russia's  Display. 

Russia's  Building,  as  well  as  its  exhibits,  was  long  delayed,  but  it  is 
one  of  the  most  picturesque  on  the  grounds.  The  exterior  was  made 
in  Russia  and  was  merely  put  together  here.  While  the  design  indi- 
cates both  richness  and  delicacy,  the  high  finish  given  to  the  natural 
woods  was  one  of  the  features  which  the  Commissioner  thought  would 
prove  to  be  especially  interesting. 

The  principal  entrance  to  the  pavilion  is  through  an  arched  doorway 
at  the  northwest  corner,  near  the  Belgian  exhibit.  Just  within  the 
entrance  at  the  opposite  front  corner  is  the  imperial  exhibit  of  precious 
stones  and  jewels  sent  from  the  royal  palace.  Five  immense  ornamental 
vases  stand  in  a  row  just  within  the  pavilion  in  the  front.  The  principal 
exhibits  are  silverware,  bronzes,  furs,  furniture,  clothing,  and  works  of 
art.  An  entire  section  of  more  than  1,000  square  feet  is  devoted  to  art 
alone.  Notwithstanding  so  large  an  amount  of  space  is  occupied  by 
Russia  in  the  Manufactures'  Building,  extensive  exhibits  are  made  by 
that  country  in  the  Mines  and  Mining,  Agriculture  and  Transportation 
Buildings.  Three  shiploads  give  some  idea  of  the  extent  to  which  she 
is  represented  in  the  competitive  exhibition. 

On  its  material  as  well  as  its  artistic  side  the  showing  that  is  made  by 
the  Russians  astonishes  that  portion  of  the  public  which  is  not  familiar 
with  the  industrial  or  manufacturing  resources  of  the  empire.  /Special 
interest  centers  in  the  manufactures'  exhibit,  because  in  this  building 

559 


660  A  GROUP  OF  EUROPEAN   NATIONS. 

every  important  nation  of  the  civilized  world  meets  on  common  ground. 
The  space  set  apart  here  for  Russia  contains  a  finished,  showy  pavilion. 
One  of  the  special  features  in  this  exhibit  is  a  collection  of  stone  vases 
from  the  factory  of  the  emperor.  There  are  eight  or  nine  of  these  that 
are  especially  designed  and  chosen  by  the  emperor  and  empress  for 
exhibition  at  the  World's  Fair.  There  is  also  a  most  complete  collec- 
tion of  Russian  pottery  in  the  various  grades  for  which  the  empire  is 

noted. 

Furs,  Precious  Wares  and  Embroidery. 

Another  prominent  exhibit  in  the  manufactures'  group  is  one  of  the 
greatest  collections  of  Russian  furs  ever  shown  outside  the  empire. 
Here  are  seen  some  of  the  products  of  those  seal  fisheries  about  which  so 
much  has  been  heard  in  the  Bering  Sea  controversy.  The  fur-bearing 
animals  of  the  great  Siberian  steppes,  as  well  as  those  of  European  Rus- 
sia, have  been  drawn  upon.  The  dressing  and  manufacture  of  furs  into 
garments,  for  which  the  Russians  are  noted,  is  also  illustrated.  The 
well-known  house  of  Grundwald,  which  has  factories  in  both  St.  Peters- 
burg and  Paris,  is  one  of  the  prominent  exhibitors.  Then  there  is  an 
important  display  of  silverware.  M.  Gratchkoff,  purveyor  of  the  im- 
perial court,  shows  in  this  group  some  of  the  ware  of  fabulous  value 
for  which  the  imperial  tables  are  noted.  In  this  exhibit  are  many  pieces 
of  silverware  that  have  been  bought  in  Russia  and  are  destined  for  pres- 
ents to  leading  American  officials  at  the  close  of  the  Fair. 

There  is  a  fine  display  of  furniture  and  other  articles  of  domestic  lux- 
ury by  five  or  six  of  the  leading  St.  Petersburg  firms.  In  this  group 
are  shown  many  of  the  valuable  native  woods,  besides  some  remarkable 
effects  in  wood  carving  and  ornamentation.  There  is  a  very  complete 
display  of  silks  in  the  various  grades  for  which  Russian  silk  manufac- 
turers are  specially  noted,  including  some  remarkable  specimens  of  gold 
and  silver  weaving  on  silk  backgrounds.  Such  methods  of  ornamenta- 
tion are  only  common,  even  in  Europe,  when  some  priceless  vestments 
for  priestly  use  are  being  prepared,  or  some  special  decorations  for  court 
purposes  are  contemplated.  In  the  ordinary  commercial  fabrics,  such 
as  cotton  and  woolen  goods,  Russia  also  makes  an  elaborate  showing. 

In  the  manufactures'  group  there  is  a  special  collective  exhibit  of  Asi- 
atic products.  This  has  been  brought  to  the  World's  Fair  by  M.  Nie- 
dikhliaiefF,  who  is  the  special  delegate  of  the  commission  of  the  central 
Asian  exhibition  of  Moscow.  The  Asiatic  exhibit  at  the  World's  Fair 
is  part  of  a  similar  exhibit  held  in  Moscow  in  1891  which  attracted 
world-wide  attention  at  that  time.  It  contains  a  collection  of  imple- 
ments, manufactures,  arts  and  illustrations  of  the  natural  resources  and 


A   GROUP  OF   EUROPEAN   NATIONS. 


561 


methods  of  life  in  the  oriental  dominions  of  the  czar.  This  is  probably 
the  only  reliable  exhibit  of  Asiatic  products,  customs  and  arts  ever 
brought  to  America,  and  is  instructive  in  furnishing  an  accurate  knowl- 
edge of  the  people  of  central  Asia.  There  is  also  a  large  display  of 


GRAND    ROTUNDA    OF   THE   WORLD'S    FAIR   TERMINAL   STATION. 

pianos  by  Russian  makers.  Then  there  are  beautiful  bronzes,  mala- 
chites, and  marbles  by  leading  manufacturers,  including  Woerfoel,  of 
St.  Petersburg. 

Work  of  Pupils  in  Imperial   Schools. 

Upstairs  in  the  liberal  arts  department  the  Russians  also  make  a  fine 
showing.  In  the  educational  group  they  have  a  complete  exhibit  by 
the  principal  governmental  and  private  schools  of  the  empire.  The 
minister  of  public  instruction  has  lent  his  aid  to  this  exhibit  in  a  way 
that  has  proved  of  great  value.  Further,  the  personal  interest  of  the 
emperor  and  empress  has  taken  form  in  the  appointment  of  special  del- 
36 


562  A   GROUP   OF   EUROPEAN   NATIONS. 

egates  who  have  charge  of  a  complete  exhibit  representing  all  the 
schools  under  the  immediate  patronage  of  the  Empress  Marie.  The 
extent  of  this  exhibit  may  be  judged  from  the  fact  that  there  are  about 
800  separate  institutions  in  Russia  under  the  immediate  patronage  of 
the  emperor  and  empress,  with  a  total  of  pupils  or  inmates  amounting 
to  500,000.  These  include  fine  art  schools,  schools  of  the  imperial  soci- 
ety for  encouragement  to  artists,  schools  for  needle-work  and  other 
industrial  occupations  for  girls,  gymnasia  for  girls,  professional  school 
for  girls,  asylums  for  the  insane,  blind,  deaf  and  dumb,  the  commercial 
schools  of  Moscow  and  St.  Petersburg,  foundling  homes,  children's  asy- 
lums, hospitals,  widows'  homes,  orphanages  and  schools  for  boys,  homes 
for  unmarried  young  women  and  various  technological  schools. 

The  exhibits  of  handiwork  by  pupils  in  these  various  schools  are 
among  the  most  interesting  exhibits  by  the  Russian  people.  Their 
methods  of  instruction  and  the  wonderful  completeness  of  government 
supervision  over  all  branches  of  education  are  a  surprise  to  many  who 
are  accustomed  to  consider  the  Russians  backward  in  the  matter  of 
schools.  This  display  is  also  embellished  with  models,  maps  and 
charts,  giving  the  extent,  methods  and  statistics  of  education  in  the 
Russian  provinces,  towns  and  cities.  All  the  exhibits  of  Russian 
schools  under  the  patronage  of  the  emperor  and  empress  are  to  be  pre- 
sented to  American  charitable  institutions  at  the  close  of  the  World's 
Fair.  This  applies  to  the  entire  liberal  arts  exhibit,  except  in  the  case 
of  a  few  specific  articles  of  great  value  which  are  the  personal  property 
of  the  czar  and  czarina,  and  which  are  to  be  returned  at  the  close  of  the 
Exposition. 

Presents   for  the   White   House. 

In  this  department  are  also  shown  two  specimens  of  Russian  handi- 
work that  are  destined  for  presentation  to  President  and  Mrs.  Cleve- 
land at  the  close  of  the  Fair.  Both  are  valuable  and  ornate  specimens 
of  gold  and  silver  embroidery  and  weaving  on  silk  patterns.  The  rich- 
ness of  these  prospective  gifts  is  in  harmony  with  the  splendor  of  impe- 
rial gifts  for  which  the  Russian  court  is  noted.  The  one  given  to  Presi- 
dent Cleveland  is  a  fire-place  ornament — gold  and  silver  interwoven  by 
means  of  the  finest  needlework  on  a  background  of  red  silk.  The  one 
given  to  Mrs.  Cleveland  from  the  Empress  Marie  is  a  specimen  of 
matchless  embroidery  on  a  background  of  pure  white  linen.  The  figure- 
piece  is  a  delineation  of  a  recent  event  which  is  of  historic  interest  to 
both  Russians  and  Americans — a  graphic  illustration  of  American  ships, 
laden  with  corn,  arriving  at  a  Russian  seaport.  The  sentiment  is  not 
less  than  the  artistic  value  and  richness  of  the  gift. 


A   GROUP   OF   EUROPEAN   NATIONS.  ft* 

Mme.  Schnetsthkim,  who  is  the  commissioner  of  liberal  arts  and  spe- 
cial delegate  from  the  Russian  imperial  institutions  of  the  Empress 
Marie,  is  also  an  individual  exhibitor  in  the  manufactures'  group.  She 
has  on  exhibition  some  remarkable  pictures  of  Count  Leo  Tolstoi. 
These  are  nine  in  number  and  are  burned  in  wood.  One  represents 
Tolstoi  as  a  peasant,  another  as  an  author  at  work,  and  so  on.  Each 
phase  of  the  distinguished  writer's  career  is  illustrated.  The  design  of 
the  cabinet  containing  these  different  portraits  is  the  work  of  the  Rus- 
sian imperial  architect.  Other  remarkable  exhibits  in  the  manufactures' 
group  are  specimens  of  granite  and  precious  stones  in  various  degrees 
of  workmanship. 

Fine   Arts    Department. 

Up  in  the  fine  arts  galleries  one  sees  a  rich  display.  There  are  be- 
tween two  and  three  hundred  numbers.  The  Imperial  Academy  of 
Fine  Arts  at  St.  Petersburg  has  sent  out  what  is  probably  the  best  col- 
lection of  Russian  paintings  ever  shown  at  a  foreign  Exposition.  It  is 
not  claimed,  however,  that  all  the  leading  artists  of  the  empire  have  con- 
tributed to  the  World's  Fair  exhibit.  The  younger  Russian  artists  are 
out  in  force,  and  many  of  the  older  ones  with  whose  work  the  art  world 
is  familiar.  The  studios  of  St.  Petersburg  and  Moscow  are  represented. 
Such  distinctive  Muscovite  painters  as  Beroff  are  seen  in  the  collection. 
The  great  works  of  Rapin,  Semiratsky  and  Makoffsky  give  a  distinct- 
ively Russian  tone  to  the  exhibit.  There  is  not  much  sculpture  in  the 
art  display.  There  are  some  engravings  and  a  few  water  colors.  Oil 
paintings  constitute  the  leading  feature  of  the  exhibit.  The  Russian 
school  makes  its  strongest  showing  in  the  works  of  some  of  the  younger 
painters. 

In  the  shoe  and  leather  building  the  Russians  make  a  very  strong 
showing.  Together  with  France,  they  occupy  by  far  the  largest  collec- 
tive space  in  the  building.  There  is  a  fine  pavilion  erected  by  the 
Russian-American  company  at  a  cost  of  $7,000.  In  this  pavilion  are 
shown  the  various  grades  of  rubber  and  the  best  leather  fabrics.  There 
are  manufactured  shoes  for  all  sorts  of  wear.  A  particular  feature  of 
the  Russian  leather  exhibit  is  mosaic  leather  and  stamped  leather. 
There  are  twenty-eight  exhibitors  in  the  department  of  the  shoe  and 
leather  exhibit,  all  being  prominent  Russian  firms  or  corporations. 

Pictures   of  Siberia. 

In  Machinery  Hall  and  in  Transportation  and  Mines  and  Mining 
Buildings  the  Russians  are  prominent.  In  transportation  the  minister 


564  A   GROUP  OF  EUROPEAN   NATIONS. 

of  the  navy  shows  models  of  vessels,  cables  and  chains.  The  minister 
of  communication  shows  maps  and  plans  of  railways,  canals,  and  other 
methods  of  communication.  In  mines  and  mining  the  great  Siberian 
mines  are  illustrated  by  maps,  implements  and  statistics,  and  metallurgy 
is  shown  in  various  forms.  The  electrical  exhibit  is  small,  there  being 
only  two  hundred  square  feet  set  apart  for  Russia  in  Electricity 
Building. 

The  Muscovite  exhibit  in  Fisheries  Building  is  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant in  that  interesting  structure.  The  great  government  fisheries 
and  the  commercial  value  of  the  industry  are  illustrated  in  a  variety  of 
ways.  There  are  models  of  fishing  craft  and  a  valuable  collection  of 
specimens  of  all  forms  of  the  finny  tribe  found  in  Russian  waters.  In 
Horticultural  Building  there  is  an  elaborate  display  of  Russian  fruits 
kept  by  cold  storage.  Russian  agriculture  is  exhibited  by  the  minister 
of  state  domains  in  Agricultural  Building. 

The    Norwegian   Building. 

Exiles  from  the  rocky  fiords  of  Norway  celebrated  on  May  i/th,  in  a 
national  way,  the  opening  of  the  great  Exposition,  which  symbolizes  the 
universal  brotherhood  of  man  and  the  triumph  of  the  arts  of  peace.  It 
was  fitting  that  Norway  should  be  the  first,  for  tradition  says  that  years 
before  Columbus  a  Norseman  landed  his  ship  on  the  coast  of  Labrador, 
and  was  the  first  to  set  foot  on  the  new  continent,  the  discovery  of 
which  the  Exposition  celebrates.  But  the  day  had  to  all  Norwegians 
another  meaning.  Since  1814,  May  17  has  been  the  Norwegian  Fourth 
of  July,  and  there  was  therefore  an  added  vigor  and  a  double  intensity 
in  the  singing  of  the  patriotic  songs  and  in  the  eloquent  orations. 

Festival  Hall  was  crowded  long  before  two  o'clock,  the  hour  set  for 
the  opening  of  the  formal  exercises.  The  early  trains  to  Jackson  Park 
carried  many  of  the  countrymen  of  the  great  Leif  Ericsson,  and  at  one 
o'clock  fully  5,000  Norwegians  were  on  the  grounds.  Inside  the  hall 
the  scene  was  one  calculated  to  arouse  the  patriotic  feelings  of  any  man 
to  whom  the  day  had  special  meaning.  In  the  gallery  back  of  the 
speakers'  stand,  twin  flags  of  Norway  were  draped  over  the  Stars  and 
Stripes.  From  the  railing  of  the  balcony  festoons  of  red,  white,  and 
blue,  familiar  alike  to  the  Norseman  in  his  native  land  and  in  this,  hung 
in  graceful  lines.  In  the  center  of  the  great  circular  hall  the  speakers' 
platform  was  ablnze  with  the  same  colors. 

Patriotic  Sentiments. 

Professor  Julius  E.  Olsen  of  the  University  of  Wisconsin  was  the  ora- 
tor of  the  occasion.  Fair-haired  and  stalwart,  the  speaker  was  a  typical 


A  GROUP  OF  EUROPEAN  NATIONS. 


565 


Norseman,  and  appropriately  he  began  his  address  by  quoting  a  verse 
from  Bjornson's  national  hymn.  He  spoke  of  Norway  as  the  cradle  of 
liberty,  and  reviewed  the  struggles  which  Norsemen  had  made  to  ac- 


NORWAY'S  BUILDING. 

quire  the  priceless  boon.  He  told  of  the  separation  of  Norway  from 
Denmark  after  400  years  of  subjugation,  and  eulogized  the  "  Spirit  of 
the  North,"  which  through  all  had  kept  the  Norwegian  peasants  loyal 
to  the  one  idea.  The  constitution  of  Norway,  granted  in  1814,  he  de- 
clared to  be  one  of  the  few  permanent  results  of  the  French  revolution. 
Turning  to  the  Norsemen  who  were  among  the  first  to  settle  in  America,, 


566 


A  GROUP  OF   EUROPEAN  NATIONS. 


he  reviewed  their  history  and  showed  that  whenever  there  came  a  call 
for  patriotic  devotion  to  the  principles  of  liberty  his  countrymen  were 
ready  to  answer.  In  conclusion  he  urged  every  Norwegian  to  give 
thanks  for  the  dauntless  spirit  which  is  a  part  of  his  inheritance,  and  to 
send  back  to  his  native  land  warm  greetings  and  best  wishes  for  their 
future.  While  the  applause  which  greeted  him  still  echoed,  Professor 


NORSEMEN   MARCHING  TO   FESTIVAL   HALL. 

Olsen  proposed  three  cheers  for  the  day,  and  they  were  given  with  a 
zest  and  vigor  born  of  the  North. 

When  the  hush  came  Mrs.  Anna  Smith  Behrens  was  introduced,  and 
she  sang  three  ballads  in  the  Norwegian  language,  each  of  which 
touched  a  tender  chord  of  feeling  in  the  audience. 

Professor  Rasmus  Anderson  spoke  for  Norway  in  his  native  tongue. 
Himself  a  distinguished  citizen  of  his  adopted  country,  having  served  as 
Minister  to  Copenhagen,  he  was  able  to  speak  with  peculiar  feeling  of 
the  common  spirit  which  should  animate  Norsemen  and  Americans 
alike.  As  he  referred  to  the  beauty  of  Norwegian  women  a  cheer  went 
up  for  the  pretty  girls  in  the  costumes  of  Norwegian  peasants  who  sat 
in  the  center  of  the  hall. 


A  GROUP  OF  EUROPEAN  NATIONS.  567 

Gov.  Nelson  Glorifies  Norway. 

There  was  a  stir  on  the  platform  when  the  orchestra  had  finished,  and 
a  stalwart  man,  bearded  like  a  Viking  of  old,  stepped  forward.  Few 
recognized  him  as  one  of  the  most  distinguished  Norwegians  in  the 
United  States — the  Hon.  Knute  Nelson,  Governor  of  Minnesota.  Glori- 
fying Norway,  Gov.  Nelson  told  how  Harold  the  Fair-haired  had  led  to 
the  colonization  of  Iceland,  and  how  from  that  Norwegian  colony  came 
Leif  Ericsson,  whom  he  declared  to  be  the  original  discoverer  of  America. 
He  said  : 

"  From  the  Norman  Vikings  came  William  the  Norman,  conqueror 
of  England  and  founder  of  the  English  dynasty  of  kings.  The  hot,  riot- 
ous Viking  blood,  tempered  by  the  glaciers  of  Iceland,  lived  and  spark- 
led in  the  sagas,  but  in  the  balmier  climes  of  England  and  France  it 
produced  a  race  of  warriors  and  statesmen." 

Reviewing  the  after  history  of  Norway  the  speaker  brought  his  peo- 
ple down  to  the  time  of  the  granting  of  the  Constitution  in  1814,  and 
declared  that  under  present  conditions  Norway  enjoys  almost  all  the 
blessings  of  a  democratic  form  of  government.  Speaking  of  his  coun- 
trymen in  America  he  said  : 

"  In  this  land  of  our  adoption,  where  we  have  been  received  into  full 
fellowship,  we  can  best  honor  Norway,  best  reverence  the  memory  of 
our  ancestors,  by  performing  our  duties  as  American  citizens,  and  let  us 
feel  that  whenever  we  are  deficient  in  active  love  and  duty  to  the  United 
States  we  do  an  injustice  to  ourselves  and  throw  discredit  upon  the  land, 
of  our  birth." 

The  Norwegian  Building  is  typical  of  the  prevailing  architecture  of 
that  country.  The  interior  is  neat  and  tasteful,  and  the  surrounding 
walls  are  covered  with  plaster  casts  of  food  fishes  and  a  number  of  very 
fine  oil  paintings  by  Lauritz  Haaland  showing  scenes  on  the  coast  of 
Norway.  A  diorama  representing  seal  hunting  is  an  attractive  feature 
of  the  exhibit.  It  is  decorated  with  stuffed  birds,  polar  bears  and  seal- 
ing and  whaling  guns  and  implements. 

Denmark's   Rare    Exhibits. 

Denmark's  exhibit  in  Manufactures  Building  is  well  worth  a  careful 
inspection.  The  exhibit  is  on  the  west  side  of  Columbian  avenue,  the 
main  north  and  south  aisle,  near  the  south  entrance  of  the  building. 
The  fagade  represents  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  City  of  Copenhagen  and 
on  either  side  is  shown  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  Kingdom  of  Denmark, 
with  the  Danish  flags.  By  way  of  ornament  to  the  front  entrance  there 


568  A  GROUP  OF   EUROPEAN   NATIONS. 

are  placed  on  either  side  bronze  statues  of  Bertel  Thorwaldsen  and 
Hans  Christian  Andersen.  Around  on  the  north  wall  there  is  a  series 
of  paintings  and  copies  of  sculptures.  Among  the  pictures  shown  are 
those  of  a  Danish  fleet  of  Vikings  crossing  the  North  Sea,  Greenland 
Sound,  the  Danish  West  Indies,  and  the  port  of  Copenhagen.  On  the 
west  wall  is  a  display  of  photographs,  among  them  being  pictures  of 
members  of  the  royal  family. 

In  the  exhibit  proper  the  two  most  interesting  displays  are  those 
commemorative  of  Thorwaldsen  and  Andersen.  At  the  southeast 
corner  there  is  a  reproduction  in  miniature  of  the  museum  in  Copen- 
hagen built  by  Bertel  Thorwaldsen  and  presented  to  the  city,  containing 
miniature  casts  of  all  the  works  of  art  contained  in  it,  which  includes 
nearly  all  the  original  work  of  the  great  sculptor.  In  a  case  along  side 
of  it  are  personal  relics,  including  the  hat  worn  by  him  at  the  triumphal 
entry  into  Copenhagen  in  1838,  the  medal  of  the  order  of  knighthood 
conferred  upon  him  by  the  King,  his  favorite  pipe,  cigar  cases,  match 
boxes,  autograph  letters,  and  some  of  the  tools  used  by  him.  There  is 
a  portrait  of  Thorwaldsen,  by  Horace  Vernet,  the  famous  French  artist, 
showing  the  sculptor  standing  before  the  bust  which  he  had  made  of 
Vernet. 

Relics  of  Fairy  Tale  Andersen. 

Hans  Christian  Andersen,  writer  of  fairy  tales  and  equally  popular  in 
all  civilized  countries  of  the  world,  is  brought  to  memory  by  the  large 
collection  of  personal  relics.  The  full  manuscript  of  his  autobiography, 
along  with  several  of  his  tales  in  the  original,  occupy  a  case.  There  is 
a  fine  screen  made  by  Andersen  from  clippings  from  pictorial  papers 
containing  views  of  Denmark  and  of  contemporaries  of  his,  including 
members  of  the  royal  family  and  brother  artists  and  authors. 

All  of  the  furniture  in  the  space  is  from  Andersen's  home  and  was 
used  by  him.  There  are  the  desk  on  which  he  wrote,  the  last  inkstand 
he  used — an  elaborate  affair  in  silver  enameled  in  a  fanciful  and  artistic 
design — a  sofa  with  pillows  and  embroidered  covers,  a  big  hall  clock; 
chairs,  pictures,  a  pair  of  spectacles,  pens,  and  little  articles  of  personal 
use,  all  from  the  royal  museum  in  Copenhagen  and  loaned  for  the  first 
time  for  this  exhibit.  "  Picturesque  America,"  presented  to  him  by 
American  citizens,  is  among  the  other  articles  shown. 

Sea-King   and   Mermaids. 

At  the  extreme  west  end  of  the  exhibit  and  over  the  west  entrance  is 
a  ceramic  display  designed  by  Professor  Lorenz  Frolich  and  executed 
by  Professor  Herman  Kahler.  The  painting  is  on  tile  six  inches  square 


A   GROUP   OF   EUROPEAN   NATIONS.  569 

and  the  entire  work  occupies  a  space  six  feet  wide  and  eighteen  feet 
long.  The  title  is  "  The  Daughters  of  Aegir  Drinking  to  Him."  The 
king  of  the  sea  is  represented  standing  on  the  sea-coast  with  his- 
mermaid  daughters  about  him,  and  on  either  side  of  the  painting 
proper  there  are  two  figures  of  mermaids,  one  playing  a  harp,  the  other 
blowing  a  sea  shell. 

Just  in  front  of  this,  inclosed  in  a  glass  case,  is  a  model  of  the  free 
port  of  Copenhagen.  This  model  is  surmounted  by  a  map  of  the  world^ 
showing  the  routes  of  the  various  lines  of  commerce,  including  those 
across  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

The  summer  residence  of  King  Christian  IX.,  known  as  Rosenborg 
Castle,  built  in  1604,  is  shown  in  a  model  made  entirely  of  gold  and 
silver.  There  are  1,700  pieces  used  in  its  construction.  Several  cases 
are  filled  with  gold  and  silver  work  from  the  larger  jewelry  manufac- 
turers of  Copenhagen,  and  there  is  an  extensive  exhibit  made  of  wares 
from  the  royal  porcelain  works. 

The  King  in  Silver  and  Gold. 

King  Christian  IX.  is  represented  in  an  equestrian  statue  of  silver 
and  gold,  the  horse  shown  being  his  favorite  animal.  This  stands  three 
feet  high.  The  pottery  exhibit  is  one  of  the  interesting  features.  A 
number  of  black  terra-cotta  figures  which  look  like  iron  or  bronze  are 
shown,  the  color  of  which  is  obtained  entirely  through  the  burning. 
There  is  a  special  clay  which  is  found  nowhere  else  used  in  its  making. 
There  are  two  spaces  filled  with  furniture  exhibits  and  samples  of  work 
from  the  schools  of  Copenhagen  form  another  interesting  feature. 
Aksel  Mikkelsen  has  made  a  model  of  a  Danish  manual  training  school 
showing  the  work  benches,  the  tools  and  machinery  used,  and  with 
models  of  pupils  at  work. 

Denmark  doesn't  believe  in  hiding  her  choice  things  in  a  cupboard 
and  requiring  a  ticket  of  admission  to  see  them.  She  has,  therefore, 
made  the  exterior  of  her  imposing  structure  furnish  walls  for  the  dis- 
play of  exhibits.  Every  inch  of  space  on  the  outside  walls  or  in  open 
windows  or  niches  has  been  utilized  to  show  some  painting  of  historical 
interest  or  the  beautiful  scenery  of  the  country,  or  a  product  of  sculp- 
ture. 

The  Old  Explorer. 

As  though  to  prepare  the  mind  for  the  reasonableness  of  the  claim 
that  Leif  Ericsson  crossed  the  Atlantic  four  centuries  before  Colum- 
bus, a  number  of  pictures  are  hung  on  the  outer  walls  illustrating  the 
adventurous  and  hardy  character  of  the  vikings.  One  shows  a  Danish 


570  A  GROUP  OF  EUROPEAN   NATIONS. 

fleet  crossing  the  North  sea  in  860 ;  another  the  landing  of  one  of  these 
expeditions  on  a  foreign  coast  in  980.  The  next  step  in  the  historical 
-suggestion  leads  to  a  corner  room  in  the  interior  of  the  pavilion,  which  is 
•called  the  Ericsson  room.  Its  walls  are  covered  with  primitive  sketches 
•of  what  are  believed  to  be  voyages  of  this  early  explorer,  and  the  furni- 
ture is  reproduced  from  styles  in  use  in  Iceland  at  the  present  day.  The 
room  is  devoted  to  the  memory  of  the  "  first  discoverer  of  America." 

There  is  a  display  of  china  from  the  royal  works  at  Copenhagen. 
These  works  were  established  in  1760,  and  the  products,  both  of  table- 
ware and  ornamental  pieces,  have  attained  world-wide  reputation.  One 
section  is  devoted  to  the  famous  Ipsen  pottery,  unlike  anything  else 
seen  in  the  Exposition  in  the  delicate  coloring  of  the  ware  and  its  clearly 
defined  ornamentation.  This  is  made  at  Copenhagen,  and  the  principal 
productions  are  imitations  of  Greek  and  Roman  vases.  The  prices  are 
much  lower  that  those  of  similar  pottery  from  other  countries.  One 
piece  is  a  frieze  twelve  yards  long,  representing  Alexander  the  Great's 
entrance  into  Babylon,  after  Thorwaldsen. 

Ceramics  and  Manual  Training. 

An  interesting  ceramic  is  shown  in  a  tile  painting  called  "  The 
Daughters  of  the  Ocean."  It  is  about  twelve  feet  in  length,  was  painted 
.by  Lorewh  Frolich,  and  was  made  in  Fayence  by  Herman  Kahler. 

The  school  faddists  find  a  congenial  corner  where  there  is  a  complete 
•exposition  of  the  Danish  Sloyd  association.  Manual  labor  as  a  disci- 
pline in  the  schools  of  Denmark  was  required  by  law  as  early  as  1814, 
tout  it  was  not  systematically  taught  under  the  name  of  sloyd  until 
within  the  past  ten  years.  The  first  real  sloyd  school  was  established 
in  Copenhagen  in  1885,  and  the  Danish  Sloyd  association  was  founded 
in  that  year.  Its  object  was  to  promote  the  teaching  of  sloyd,  and  it  is 
now  in  the  curriculums  of  sixty -seven  public  schools  and  twenty  special 
schools.  The  association  seeks  to  secure  its  compulsory  teaching  in 
the  higher  as  well  as  the  elementary  schools,  and  it  is  said  the  public 
looks  with  favor  upon  the  movement.  By  the  exhibition  here  the 
association  hopes  to  remove  the  obstacles  to  its  introduction  in  the 
schools  in  this  country.  All  the  details  of  a  sloyd  school,  including 
the  pupils  and  the  tools,  have  been  reproduced  in  miniature,  showing 
the  methods  of  work  and  the  results.  Denmark's  royal  commission  is 
headed  by  Carl  Michelson,  president,  and  exhibits  are  also  found  in  the 
Fine  Arts,  Woman's  and  Agriculture  Buildings.  The  sloyd  schools 
correspond  with  our  manual  training  schools,  and  are  popular  in  the 
north  of  Europe. 


A  GROUP  OF  EUROPEAN  NATIONS. 


571 


Sweden  and  the  Fair. 

The  Swedish  Building  is  one  of  the  most  striking  objects  on  the 
grounds.  The  design  is  mainly  the  product  of  the  architect's  fancy,  but 
in  working  it  out  he  has  been  inspired  in  a  general  way  by  the  Swedish 
churches  and  houses  of  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries.  As 
far  as  possible  the  characteristics  of  the  old  Swedish  architecture  have 
been  illustrated.  The  leading  feature  is  a  central  dome  70  feet  high, 


THE   SWEDISH    BUILDING. 

and  an  ornamental  spire  over  it,  on  which  the  Swedish  flag  floats  150 
feet  from  the  ground.  The  lower  part  of  the  front  wall  forms  an  exhibit 
of  its  own,  consisting,  as  it  does,  of  brick,  terra-cotta,  and  cement  work 
from  the  most  prominent  manufacturers  in  Sweden. 

The  remainder  of  the  building  is  entirely  of  wood,  all  the  work  having 
been  done  in  Sweden.  In  fact,  the  building  was  constructed  and  put 
together  there,  and  then  taken  apart  and  brought  to  Chicago.  Following 
the  old  Swedish  fashion,  the  whole  of  the  roof  and  walls  are  covered 
with  shingles,  and  the  outside  of  the  wood-work  is  impregnated  with  a 
preserving  liquid  to  prevent  decay. 


572  A   GROUP   OF   EUROPEAN   NATIONS. 

In  the  interior  there  is  a  tetragonal  hall  in  the  centre,  surrounded  by 
three  large  rooms.  The  inside  is  painted  in  light  colors  and  richly 
decorated  with  bunting,  coats  of  arms,  and  crests.  Opposite  the  main 
entrance  is  a  large  picture  of  the  capital  of  Sweden,  with  its  famous 
royal  castle.  Wax  figures  stand  in  front  of  this  painting  in  the 
picturesque  garb  of  the  Swedes.  At  one  side  is  a  Swedish  landscape 
and  at  the  other  a  peasant's  cottage.  Sweden's  exhibit  is  found  in  the 
Manufactures  Building,  Machinery  Hall,  and  Fine  Arts  Building.  The 
pavilion,  however,  contains  a  small  exhibit.  This  consists  of  matters 
illustrative  of  the  Swedish  school  system,  embroidery  and  needlework, 
gold  and  silverware,  wood  pulp  products,  china  and  glass  goods,  and 
samples  of  the  far-famed  Swedish  iron  ore. 

Great  Interest  taken  in  the  Exposition. 

Arthur  Leffler,  Chief  Commissioner  of  the  Swedish  Government  at 
the  Exposition,  said  : 

"  The  Swedish  Government  has  made  a  larger  appropriation  for  an 
exhibit  at  the  World's  Fair  than  any  other  European  nation,  according 
to  population.  The  amount  appropriated  for  the  exhibit  was  350,000 
krons,  or  about  $100,000.  In  addition  to  this  the  government  has 
distributed  about  50,000  krons  to  professional  men,  engineers  and 
artists,  toward  paying  their  expenses  when  they  visit  the  Fair.  Sweden 
has  not  looked  upon  the  Fair  as  a  money-making  enterprise  on  her  part, 
but  has  been  liberal  in  her  outlay  because  of  the  kindly  feeling  she  has 
for  the  United  States,  and  because  of  the  opportunities  for  study  and 
observation  which  it  will  afford  such  of  her  people  as  visit  this  country 
while  the  Fair  is  in  progress. 

"  On  many  occasions  the  United  States  has  shown  such  a  spirit  of 
kindly  interest  in  Sweden  that  King  Oscar  and  his  subjects  felt  under 
obligation  to  reciprocate  by  doing  all  things  possible  to  make  the  Fair 
a  success.  The  King  was  invited  to  attend,  but  he  told  me  he  thought 
he  could  not,  because  he  is  an  old  man  and  the  journey  would  be  too 
much  for  him. 

"  Our  exhibit  sets  forth  the  manufacturing,  the  artistic,  and  the  agri- 
cultural life  of  the  nation.  It  is  especially  good  in  the  line  of  iron  and 
steel,  brick  clay,  and  porcelain  works.  There  is  also  a  complete  exem- 
plification of  the  life  of  the  peasantry.  The  schools,  the  Swedish  home 
life,  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  people  are  illustrated. 

"  The  art  exhibit  consists  of  200  pieces  of  oils,  water  colors  and 
pastels.  Of  these  145  are  oil  paintings.  In  addition  some  pieces  of 
sculpture  are  shown.  The  art  collection  is  not  as  large  as  the  one  sent 


A   GROUP   OF   EUROPEAN   NATIONS.  573 

to  the  Paris  Exposition,  but  it  is  more  valuable.  One  of  the  exhibitors 
is  Eugene,  the  fourth  son  of  King  Oscar,  who  is  an  artist  of  no  little 
merit.  The  paintings  which  he  sends  were  selected  by  the  committee 
in  the  same  manner  as  the  others." 

Austria  Displays  her  Treasures. 

The  decorative  art  section  of  Austria  in  the  Liberal  Arts  Building  in 
Jackson  Park  presents  a  brilliant  and  complete  appearance.  The  situa- 
tion of  the  Austrian  exhibit  is  one  of  the  most  advantageous  in  the 
building.  The  gold  and  white  arch  that  forms  its  entrance  way  consti 
tutes  an  imposing  architectural  feature.  The  Austrian  industrial  arts 
best  known  in  America  are  those  of  glass  and  porcelain.  Glassmaking 
has  been  successfully  carried  on  by  the  artisans  of  different  sections  of 
Austria  for  nearly  seven  hundred  years.  The  Bohemians  have  always 
excelled  both  in  designs  and  in  the  art  of  coloring  glass.  The  showing 
of  glass  by  this  country  is  composed  of  an  endless  variety,  both  of 
shape  and  embellishment.  Engraved  glass  is  among  the  novelties 
re-introduced  by  these  clever  craftsmen.  The  simple  white  glass  is  a 
great  relief,  coming  as  it  has  after  the  general  use  of  glass  ornately 
decorated  and  too  often  highly  colored.  The  engraving  is  traced  on  the 
outer  surface  and  cut  from  the  back  of  the  glass.  The  cutting  is 
exquisite.  The  incisions  are  so  deeply  made  that  the  effect  from  the 
front  surface  is  that  of  a  beautifully  modeled  object. 

There  are  loving-cups,  and  plaques  which  are  decorated  by  hand  with 
the  Austrian  coat-of-arms  and  other  devices;  goblets  and  tankards 
enameled  with  bunches  of  flowers  ;  opalescent  and  opaque  examples, 
with  projecting  knobs  bent  around  the  body  of  the  objects.  There  is 
every  conceivable  gradation  of  toning.  The  Bohemian  glass  is  a  color 
study.  The  sea  greens,  violets,  bluish  greens,  ambers,  canary  yellows, 
emerald  greens,  rose,  ruby,  coppers  dark  and  light,  cobalt  blues,  com- 
bined with  gilt  and  enamels,  are  endless  in  variety  and  shape.  The 
Venetian  notion  of  coloring  has  been  largely  introduced. 

Notable  Specimens. 

A  beautiful  pitcher-shaped  vase  of  ultra-marine  blue  is  one  of  the 
finest  color  examples  in  the  Austrian  glass  collection.  It  consists  of 
three  distinct  layers  of  glass,  which  produces  great  brilliancy  of  color 
and  glaze.  There  is  a  vase  on  which  has  been  laid  a  thin  skin  of  colored 
material  on  one  side  and  by  means  of  skillful  grinding  the  color  has  been 
removed,  leaving  a  transparent  pattern  on  the  closed  ground.  The 
collection  displayed  is  very  large  and  exquisitely  beautiful. 


574  A   GROUP  OF   EUROPEAN   NATIONS. 

The  great  manufactory  of  Vienna  porcelain,  which  dates  from  1720, 
produces  many  wonderful  specimens  of  workmanship.  The  paste  of 
which  the  porcelain  is  made  is  not  thought  by  connoisseurs  in  ceramics 
to  equal  that  of  Dresden  or  Worcester.  This,  however,  is  a  mooted 
question.  Their  gold  work,  both  flat  and  raised,  has  attained  high  per- 
fection. The  porcelain  factories  of  all  countries  have  sought  to  follow 
these  workers  in  gold,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  the  work  done  by  these 
Vienna  porcelain  artisans  has  been  equalled. 

The  porcelains  of  Austria  are  famous  for  their  deep  blues,  garnets  and 
violet  reds,  red  being  the  color  universally  used  by  them.  The  prevailing 
decoration  is  that  of  allegorical  figures  and  stories  painted  in  plateau  or 
medallion  effects  ;  the  figures  are  well  modeled,  and  the  paintings  usually 
executed  with  artistic  excellence.  They  manufacture  every  known 
article  for  table  use  and  decorative  purposes — porcelain  painted  clocks, 
dainty  bonbon  boxes,  candlesticks,  jardinieres  and  lamps.  Their  embel- 
lishments in  relief  are  excellent.  The  success  attained  by  the  Viennese 
in  the  production  of  faience  is  established. 

Artistic  Enamels. 

The  art  studios  of  the  Imperial  and  Royal  museum  at  Vienna  have 
sent  to  the  Exposition  a  beautiful  collection  of  enamels.  The  enameling 
is  all  the  work  of  women  and  it  is  lovely.  Every  example  evinces 
great  technical  experience.  The  art  studio  manufactures  its  own  por- 
celains for  enameling.  The  work  is  also  accomplished  on  copper,  silver, 
brass  and  gold.  There  are  miniatures,  dainty  jewel  and  snuff  boxes, 
bottle-shaped  vases  that  are  as  fine  in  their  workmanship  as  any  piece 
of  cloisonne  from  the  hand  of  a  Japanese.  A  model  of  its  kind  is  an 
ewer-shapped  pitcher  of  powder  blue,  decorated  with  the  figures  of 
dancing  girls  and  garlands  of  flowers.  There  are  necklaces  of  bits  of 
porcelain  joined  together  by  fine  gold  chains  and  an  occasional  pierced 
pearl,  and  letter  portfolios  bearing  the  crest  and  monogram  of  Charles 
Louis,  better  known  to  us  as  Ludwig. 

A  vase  of  silver  intricately  wrought,  the  gift  of  the  Austrian  Govern- 
ment to  Archduke  Raena,  is  an  interesting  trophy  from  the  imperial 
museum.  There  are  bracelets  made  of  lapis  lazuli  and  collarettes  woven 
of  seed  pearls.  The  letter  chests  are  made  from  cubes  of  mother-of- 
pearl,  some  carved  in  cameo  relief  in  the  natural  color,  others  of  highly 
colored  pieces,  which  suggest  the  old  specimens  of  Greek  ornamental 
bas-reliefs  that  have,  from  time  to  time,  been  exhumed.  The  examples 
of  silver  jewelry,  inkstands,  toilet  sets,  trays  and  boxes,  engraved  or 
eaten  by  acids  in  pretty  designs,  represent  the  more  modern  work  of 
these  clever  silver  and  gold  smiths. 


THE   COLUMBIAN   TOWER. 


575 


576  A   GROUP  OF   EUROPEAN   NATIONS. 

The  art  industrial  iron  works  of  Vienna  have  a  most  novel  and 
interesting  display  of  ornamental  railings  and  gates  for  mansions.  The 
collection  of  candelabra,  fire  irons,  screens,  flower  baskets,  chandeliers 
and  jardinieres  is  very  fine.  In  the  repousse  designs  reproductions  of 
former  centuries  in  locksmith  works  and  candle-sticks,  both  in  brass 
and  copper,  show  comprehensively  the  lovely  iron  work  made  in  past 
years.  The  Austrians  manufacture  a  fire  gilt  of  lasting  and  brilliant 
quality.  Altar  furnishings  and  crucifixes  are  numbered  among  its 
specialties. 

Fancy  Leather  Goods. 

The  Vienna  leathers  have  a  world-wide  reputation  for  excellence,  and 
the  showing  of  leather  goods  is  to  a  degree  fascinating.  The  bags, 
portmanteaus — in  fact  traveling  cases  of  all  descriptions — are  made  from 
sheep  and  lamb  skins,  deer,  seal,  hog  or  pig  skins,  walrus  and  hippo- 
potamus hides,  Morocco  and  Russia  leather.  The  vegetable  leathery 
are  also  successively  worked  into  useful  articles.  The  dyes  used  in 
coloring  the  softer  leather  textures  are  the  finest :  the  colors  produced 
are  varied  and  beautiful.  Card  cases  of  lavender  and  portfolios  in  the 
same  color  are  embellished  by  the  Austrian  coat-of-arms  and  the 
American  shield  in  enamels.  Many  examples  are  engraved,  stamped 
and  carved ;  others  are  burnt  in  shaded  geometrical  designs.  Screens, 
tables,  chairs  and  writing  desks  are  decorated  in  hand  work. 

The  relief  work  to  be  seen  far  excels  that  of  any  other  country. 
Directly  truthful  copies  of  the  beautiful  Italian  porcelain,  Capodi  Monte, 
have  been  made.  The  boxes  are  especially  lovely,  both  in  shape  and 
in  scheme  of  color.  With  the  leather  goods  are  specimens  of  meer- 
schaum. Vienna  contains  manufactories  in  which  very  artistic  produc- 
tions are  made.  The  designs  in  pipes  are  uncommon  and  in  many  cases 
the  modeling  of  them  is  very  good.  The  showing  of  amber  and  tortoise 
shell  is  limited  but  representative.  The  making  of  jewelry,  knife  handles 
and  other  small  ornamental  objects  from  mother-of-pearl  is  another 
artistic  industry  of  this  country.  The  carving  and  cutting  is  skillfully 
accomplished  and  the  inlaid  work  uncommonly  fine. 

The  Bohemians  are  successful  in  making  from  glass  wonderful  imita- 
tions of  precious  stones  ;  in  fact,  it  is  most  difficult  to  tell  the  real  jewel 
from  the  fraudulent.  The  cases  containing  spurious  gems  furnish  novel 
and  interesting  amusement. 

Glories  of  the  Tyrol. 

There  was  an  interesting  ceremony  at  the  opening  of  the  Austrian 
exhibit  in  the  Transportation  Building.  With  Alpine  pinks  and  roses 


A  GROUP  OF  EUROPEAN  NATIONS. 


577 


in  her  hand,  a  wreath  of  the  flowers  upon  her  head,  and  wearing  an 

improvised  native  costume,  a  sweet  little  girl  personified  the  spirit  of 

the   Tyrolean   Alps    and   welcomed 

representatives  of  the  press  and  other 

invited    guests   to  an    inspection   of 

that  portion  of  the  Austrian  exhibit 

found  in  Transportation  Building. 

This  exhibit  consists  in  the  main, 
of  a  large  painting  showing  a  section 
of  the  Alps  in  Tyrol,  Austria,  in 
which  are  included  several  peaks 
from  8,000  to  13,000  feet  in  height 
and  the  Mittelberg  glacier.  The  ex- 
hibit found  its  way  to  Transportation 
Building  partly  because  there  was 
not  room  for  it  in  any  other,  and 
mainly  because  it  is  the  exhibit  of 
the  United  Tyrolese  Association  for 
the  attraction  and  guidance  of  travel- 
ers. While  it  illustrates  no  means 
of  transportation,  this  is  about  the 
first  thing  it  suggests  to  the  person 
wishing  to  see  the  original  of  *he 
beautiful  picture. 

The  trifling  incongruity  in  assigning  the  part  of  the  Tyrolean  sprite  to 
a  subject  of  King  William  was  due  to  the  fact  that  there  was  no  native 
miss  of  the  proper  age  in  the  city  and  because  there  was  an  opportunity 
to  exhibit  the  affection  which  Tyroleans  possess  for  the  people  who  have 
for  so  many  years  welcomed  their  own  sweet  singers  and  zither  players. 
The  exhibitors  went  over  to  the  German  village,  in  Midway  Plaisance, 
and  found,  with  her  mother,  little  Erna  Newmann,  9  years  old,  who 
possesses  the  features  of  figure  and  face  which  imagination  ascribes  to 
fairies.  While  the  guests  were  studying  the  painted  picture  she  seemed 
to  rise  out  of  the  ground  in  front  of  them  and  proceeded  to  tell  them 
who  she  was.  It  was  easy  to  believe  her. 

Pretty  Little  Speaking  Sprite. 

She  said,  speaking  in  German  :  "Welcome,  gentlemen.  You  do  not 
know  who  I  am  and  are  surprised.  I  am  the  little  spirit  that  lives  in 
these  mountains,  and,  as  I  see,  I  have  come  just  at  the  right  time  to 
welcome  you. 

37 


ADDRESS   OF  WELCOME. 


578  A   GROUP  OF   EUROPEAN   NATIONS. 

"  It  was  a  long  trip  from  my  quiet  valley  to  this  smoky  town,  but  I 
am  contented  because  I  see  I  am  still  in  my  mountains.  If  there  is  no. 
mountain  air  to  breathe  and  my  ears  are  troubled'  by  the  sound,  of 
hammer  and  saw,  this  picture  reminds  me  of  my  home..  It  tells  of  our 
great  forests,  our  mountains,  clad  in  feathery  snow,  our  home  and  our 
country.  Let  us  drink  to  the  health  of  our  Austria." 

The  painting  shown  is  1 8  by  40  feet  in  size,  and  was  executed  by  two. 
artists  from  Munich,  Michael  Zeno  Dierner  and  Hans  Wieland.  They 
were  the  first  ever  to  ascend  the  Fernerkogl  peak,  11,000  feet  in  height,, 
in  the  Tyrolean  Alps,  which  is  shown  at  the  extreme  left  of  the  picture. 
They  spent  months  in  the  mountains,  living  in  a  hut,  while  studying  the 
scenes  and  making  sketches.  The  glacier  shown  is  about  seven  miles, 
long  and  is  said  to  reveal  a  most  beautiful  combination  of  colors  near 
its  mouth,  where  the  ice,  beginning  to  break  up,  is  always  heaving  and 
rolling. 

Realism  in  Moss  and  Rocks, 

For  a  short  time  in  the  summer  a  lake  of  crystal  clearness  is  found  in 
one  of  the  valleys,  as  depicted  by  the  artists.  Directly  in  front  of  the 
picture  a  little  realism  in  the  form  of  a  moss  covered  and  rocky  plateau,, 
supposed  to  be  near  the  base  of  the  mountains,,  adds  to  the  effectiveness 
of  the  representation.  A  smoldering  camp  fire  and  appliances  used  by 
mountain-climbing  tourists  lend  their  aid  to  the  effect. 

The  picture  is  full  of  life  and  interest.  Among  other  things  is  shown 
one  of  a  number  of  cabins  where  tourists,  if  caught  in  snow  storms,  may 
stop  and  remain  until  it  is  safe  for  them  to  proceed  on  their  way.  In 
one  of  the  rooms  of  the  queer-looking  house  is  arranged  a  display  of 
art  photographs,  illustrating  the  principal  events  in  the  life  of  Emperor 
Maximilian.  One  picture  shows  the  tomb  of  Maximilian  in  the  Ho|- 
kirche,  or  church  of  the  Franciscans.  Another,  "  The  League  of 
Cambray,"  made  in  1508  ;  another,  the  "  Submission  of  Charles,  Duke 
of  Gueldres,"  made  in  1505;  and  still  another,  the  Alliance  between 
Maximilian,  Republic  of  Venice,  Pope  Alexander  VI.,  and  the  Duke  of 
Milan  against  Charles  VIII.  of  France.  There  is  a  picture  of  the  return 
of  Maximilian's  daughter  Margaret  from  France,  in  1495.  One  of  the 
curiosities  is  the  golden  roof  of  an  old  family  mansion  in  Innspruck.  A 
drawing  burned  in  wood,  and  a  life-sized  figure  of  Columbus,  made  of 
mosaic,  attract  attention. 

Elegant  Wood  Carving. 

Wood  carving  is  a  specialty  of  the  peasants  of  Tyrol,  and  some  elabo- 
rate figures  are  here  reproduced,  one  that  of  Christ  and  another  of  Mary, 


A   GROUP  OF   EUROPEAN   NATIONS.  579 

Both  are  finished  in  colors  appropriate  to  the  flesh  and  the  drapery. 
Besides  these  exhibits  there  are  specimens  of  tourists'  clothing,  photo- 
graphs of  church  and  palace  interiors  in  Austria,  and  several  oil  paint- 
ings, second  only  in  importance  to  that  of  the  Alps. 

The  limited  space  in  front  of  the  fagade  has  been  platted  with  grass, 
and  an  ivy  growth  started  at  the  foot  of  the  walls.  The  ivy  grows  up- 
ward to  cover  the  walls,  while  the  vines  of  the  Alpine  pink  which  has 
been  placed  on  the  roof  grow  downward  to  meet  it. 

An  ancient  means  of  noting  the  hour  from  six  in  the  morning  till 
eight  in  the  evening  is  shown  on  the  gable  end  of  the  building.  First, 
there  is  a  picture  of  a  sun,  and  from  its  mouth  projects  a  rod  eighteen 
inches  in  length,  at  such  an  angle  that  its  shadow  falls  across  the  hours 
indicated  in  a  semi-circle  below  at  the  appropriate  time. 


CHAPTER   XXIX. 
Curiosities  from  Japan. 

JAPAN  makes  exhibits  in  all  the  great  departments  except  ma- 
chinery and  electricity.     They  are  all  extensive,  and,  of  course, 
with  the  buildings,  cost  a  great  deal  of  money.     But  Japan  pro- 
vided for  all  the  expense  by  an  appropriation  of  $630,000,  an 
amount  more  than  twice  as  large  as  the  average  of  foreign  appropria- 
tions.    The  principal  Japanese  exhibits  are   in  the   Manufactures  and 
Agricultural  Buildings.     In  the  latter  is  its  exhibit  of  the  tea  industry, 
the  chief  support  of  the  country.     In  Manufactures  Hall  the  principal 
Japanese  exhibits  are  silk,  embroidery,  woven  goods,  porcelain,  pottery 
and  other  dainty  wares  for  which  the  Japanese  are  famous.     The  dis- 
play of  art  is  also  extensive,  and  includes  the  best  works  done  by  the 
artists    of  the    country  in   painting   and   sculpture.     In  the    Fisheries 
Building  Japan  has  one  of  the  best  and  most  comprehensive  exhibits 
made  there. 

Japan  was  one  of  the  first  foreign  governments  to  appoint  a  World's 
Fair  commission,  and  the  members  worked  diligently  from  the  first  to 
make  a  great  display. 

In  the  Art  Palace. 

Having  no  lumps  of  Parian  marble  with  all  but  speaking  tongues,  and 
no  canvases  that  the  royal  palaces  might  covet,  Japan  welcomes  the 
nations  to  see  gems  in  pounded  brass  and  chiseled  ivory  and  carved 
wood  and  inlaid  gold,  and  delicate  tracing  with  brush  and  pencil  on 
silken  stretches  as  dainty  and  finished  as  the  priceless  pieces  from  an- 
cient studios.  There  are  no  models  on  classic  lines  nor  oils ;  but  hewn 
ideas  to  the  country  born,  life  as  the  people  of  the  rising  sun  know  it, 
muscles  and  bones  and  sinews  as  their  athletes  possess  them,  flowers 
and  rivers  and  mountains  such  as  their  country  affords.  No  foreign 
school  of  any  age  or  any  clime  has  warped  the  native  taste.  Its  art  and 
execution  are  original  and  too  characteristic  to  meet  the  bookish 
standards. 

The  exhibit,  like  all  else  that  the  Japanese  did  at  the  Fair,  was  com- 
plete at  an  early  date.  Before  the  bigger  kingdoms  began  to  receive 
their  pictures  the  little  artisans  from  the  far  East  were  hammering  and 
$80 


CURIOSITIES   FROM  JAPAN.  581 

tacking  and  pegging  until  the  bare,  plain  walls  took  on  the  colors  of  a 
royal  court. 

In  the  Vestibule. 

Neat  festoons  of  red  and  white  and  brilliant  national  emblems  mark 
the  portal,  while  an  intricate  temple  of  oriental  worship  bids  the  visitor 
forget  his  western  prosaicness  and  drop  for  a  moment  in  the  indescriba- 
ble tranquillity  of  the  East  and  its  life.  On  one  side  is  a  masterly  ivory 
image  of  Buddha,  and  on  the  other  a  girded  wrestler  with  tendons  drawn 
and  cords  dilated,  cut  from  a  block  seasoned  for  a  century.  Curious 
birds  of  fancy  among  tangled  branches  of  cherry  blossoms,  done  on  the 
costliest  bits  of  silk,  form  the  background  in  frames  of  embroidery 
worked  by  deftest  hands.  This  forms  the  vestibule. 

The  most  striking  piece  in  the  collection  is  a  tapestry  which  fills  the 
side  of  one  whole  room.  It  is  a  sort  of  Gobelin,  worked  in  silk  and 
valued  at  $30,000.  The  theme  is  a  festival  procession  leaving  a  temple, 
there  being  no  less  than  1,000  figures  in  the  work.  Some  of  the  figures 
are  correct  enough  to  be  portraits,  and  others  wear  masks  and  grotesque 
faces,  as  in  a  Mardi  Gras.  The  detail  is  marvellously  fine,  every  stitch 
being  exactly  as  it  should  be.  The  garments,  emblems,  foliage  and  all 
the  rest  of  the  almost  numberless  parts  of  the  scene  are  perfect,  bearing 
abundant  testimony  to  the  truth  of  the  assertion  that  the  splendid  piece 
was  four  years  on  the  loom. 

Bronze  Work  of  a  High  Order. 

The  bronze  work  is  best  shown  in  a  center  group,  the  figures  of 
which  are  a  quarrelsome  cock  on  a  tree  and  an  old  hen  with  her  brood 
just  under  her.  It  is  a  large  piece,  executed  so  carefully  that  the  tail 
feathers  of  the  old  disturber  flutter  in  the  slightest  draught  as  though 
they  were  genuine.  The  same  skill  which  made  such  effects  possible 
fashions  writing  desks,  inlaying  the  covers  with  bits  of  gold  as  fine  as  a 
needle's  eye.  Priests  and  monks  are  cut  from  ivory,  the  diminutive  re- 
sults being  so  correct  that  miscroscopic  examination  finds  no  fault. 
Animals  in  wood  ordinarily  executed  are  little  less  than  caricatures,  but 
the  big  ones  in  the  Japanese  section  of  the  Art  Palace  have  all  the  im- 
pressiveness  of  those  cut  in  stone. 

But  aside  from  the  nicety  and  carefulness  of  detail,  the  most  inter- 
esting thing  about  it  is  that  it  is  all  thoroughly  Japanese,  with  no  out- 
side influence. 

The  paintings  are  peculiar,  but  equally  as  fascinating  as  they  are 
strange.  One  immense  panel  has  a  war  scene,  full  of  life  and  action, 
but  so  curiously  drawn  it  is  almost  incomprehensible.  The  colors  are 


582  CURIOSITIES  FROM  JAPAN. 

intensely  vivid,  with  the  same  indefinite  perspective  that  characterizes 
everything  on  these  walls.  The  most  successful  landscape  is  a  screen 
worked  in  silk.  A  great  cherry  tree,  white  in  blossom,  fills  the  entire 
foreground  and  apparently  stretches  its  boughs  over  miles  of  scenery. 
In  the  distance  are  mountains,  a  river  that  has  overflown  its  banks  and 
half  submerged  houses.  While  according  to  art  rules  it  is  possibly 
not  accurate  from  the  standpoint  of  beauty,  it  is  wonderful.  Its  value 
is  also  considerably  up  in  the  thousands.  There  are  scores  of  smaller 
efforts  and  plenty  of  good  carvings. 

Queer  Works  of  Art. 

Japanese  jugs  and  bowls  run  to  snakes  and  forked-tongued  dragons 
of  impossible  shapes  and  proportions.  The  costliest  vases  and  art  pro- 
ducts are  decorated  with  the  strangest  representations  of  animal  life  and 
the  most  striking  confusions  of  landscapes.  Reptiles  are  used  as  stand- 
ards, with  bits  of  intricately  carved  statuary  resting  upon  their  extended 
tongues.  Water  vessels  have  triangular  waves.  Ornamental  bronzes 
have  stumpy  figures  walking  on  diminutive  devils  with  square  eyes  and 
faces  drawn  into  wrinkles  of  agonies  and  their  clawy  fingers  and  feet 
extended.  These  little  satans  are  everywhere,  always  with  two  hideous 
tusks  extending  from  their  jaws,  and  the  hair  and  eyebrows  so  carved, 
hammered  and  painted  as  to  represent  horns.  The  figures  which  hold 
them  to  earth  are  short  of  stature,  like  the  artists  themselves,  and  are 
decorated  in  the  elaborate  garbs  which  make  the  Japanese  picturesque. 
The  ho-o,  sung  in  story  and  famous  in  legend,  is  everywhere,  the  bird 
seemingly  being  the  stock  figure  in  all  branches  of  work,  from  carpentry 
to  the  most  costly  silk  tapestry. 

These  grotesque  and  sometimes  amusing  ideas  of  decorative  art  have 
drawn  great  swarms  of  people  to  the  Japanese  exhibits.  While  it  may 
be  a  question  whether  such  exaggerated  and  fantastic  ideas  will  rank  as 
truly  artistic,  there  is  no  gainsaying  the  extreme  delicacy  of  execution 
and  design.  The  Japanese  carve  ivory  with  the  same  preciseness  and 
care  that  they  make  two  bamboos  support  each  other  without  nails. 
It  is  apparently  as  easy  for  them  to  inlay  bits  of  sea-fish  shells  in 
mahogany  until  the  finished  table  top  looks  like  a  single  piece  as  it  is  to 
make  a  durable  picket  fence  out  of  twine  and  fish  poles. 

Wonderful  Skill  of  the  Workmen. 

The  common  carpenter  builds  a  dainty  home,  and  his  skill  is  shocked 
in  case  a  nail-head  or  peg  can  be  seen  ;  but  the  man  who  pounds  brass 
does  it  with  such  wondrous  neatness  that  his  ink  stand  or  toilet  case 


CUklOSlf  IES  FkOM  JAPAN.  583 

^adorns  -a  royal  boudoir..  The  weavers  spin  mulberry  leaves  in  silken 
upholstery  so  faultlessly  that  the  graceful  chairs  have  princely  values, 
and  the  skillful  gardener  brings  twenty  miles  of  landscape  into  a  single 
;flower  bed. 

Their  productions  are  sometimes  grotesque  in  the  extreme.  In 
Manufactures  Building  some  of  their  most  elaborate  pieces  of  pottery, 
Hvith  superlative  prices,  shave  the  outsides  covered  with  thickets,  in  which 
'ill-shaped  chickens  are  feeding.  The  finest  tapestries  are  brilliant  with 
:monsters  that  give  a  nervous  man  the  shudders — great  creeping, 
'crawling,  tangled,  snaky  combinatioas  with  innumerable  legs  and  feet, 
•with  flashing  eyes  and  stinging  fangs  .and  jagged  tails.  They  are 
worked  out  with  the  deftness  of  master  hands,  ixut  they  are  not  things 
•one  would  wish  to  meet  in  reality. 

Some  aspiring  carver  made  busts  of  President  Cleveland,  General 
rGrant  and  George  Washington.  The  resemblance  to  the  first  was  a 
trifle,  to  the  second  less  .and  to  the  third  so  small  flobody  can  discover 
it.  The  president  looks  sad,  dejected  and  disgusted,  the  general  is  fierce 
and  Washington's  hair  Jiangs  in  curls  and  his  eyes  are  only  holes. 
These  were  probably  made  as  experiments,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  the  man 
who  did  them  will  jiiot  be  overworked  with  orders  from  America. 
However,  the  value  of  the  collection  in  the  big  building  can  be  expressed 
;by  seven  figures  in  a  row.  The  commission  selected  the  exhibit  from 
•each  branch  of  Japanese  art,  and  the  monetary  value  is  unexcelled  by 
tthat  of  any  of  the  big  neighbors. 

The  Quaint  Japanese  Building. 

Most  every  one  who  has  ever  been  in  the  World's  Fair  grounds 
knows  where  the  Japanese  pavilion  is.  It  has  excited  more  interest  and 
drawn  more  attention  than  any  of  the  other  foreign  buildings  and  for 
several  very  excellent  reasons.  In  the  first  place  it  is  built  of  permanent 
material  put  up  there  to  stay  and  be  a  monument  to  the  interest  of  the 
mikado's  country  in  the  great  Columbian  show.  When  the  Fair  is  over 
the  little  palace  will  be  turned  over  to  the  South  Park  commissioners 
and  Chicagoans  can  always  see  it.  Another  reason  for  the  interest  in 
the  building  is  the  fact  that  it  was  put  together  by  a  band  of  those  queer 
little  Japs,  whose  appearance  and  methods  of  work  are  so  different  from 
the  American  ;  and  still  another  is  the  almost  universal  interest  in  every- 
thing that  comes  from  the  mikado's  island.  Visitors  to  the  Exposition 
grounds  flocked  about  the  little  building  and  its  funny  builders  when  the 
work  first  began,  but  their  curiosity  became  too  strong  and  their  inquiries 
too  pointed,  and  no  one  finally  was  allowed  over  there. 


584 


CURIOSITIES   FROM  JAPAN. 


But  the  Hooden 

can  be  easily  seen 

from  the  outside  of 

the   lagoon.     Its 

queer,    swooping 

roof  rises  just  above 

the    tree-tops,  and 

the   building    as   a 

whole  is  in  strong- 

est contrast  to  the 

greatplaster  palaces 

that   form  a   circle 

around   the    inland 

lake.    The  meaning 

of  the  word  hooden 

is   phoenix    palace. 

The  phcenix  is  the 

traditional    bird    of 

.    Japan.      Whenever 

5    the  mikado  does  a 

;j    good  act  the  phce- 

«    nix  is  supposed  to 

%    appear  to  show  its 


fc    approval.     And  so 

Si    the  phcenix  is  men- 
>->          A 

w    tioned  in  all  the  tra- 

u 

H    ditions  and  legends 

of  the  country.  It 
is  most  plentifully 
represented  in  the 
little  palace.  Gold 
phoenixes  are  every- 
where used  as  orna- 
ments in  all  parts 
of  the  building. 

The  Hooden  is 
only  one  story  high. 
It  consists  of  three 
pavilions,  the  one  in 
the  center  consider- 
ably larger  than 


CURIOSITIES   FROM  JAPAN.  585 

the  others,  and  all  connected  by  latticed  corridors.  Each  of  these 
pavilions  is  representative  of  the  decorative  and  architectural  feature  of 
three  prominent  epochs  in  Japanese  history.  In  general  the  ground 
plan  follows  the  arrangement  of  the  Hoodo  Temple,  an  interesting 
monument  of  Fujiwara  art.  The  Hoodo  was  constructed  about  eight 
hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  by  Yorimichi,  who  was  then  a  power  in 
Japan.  It  is  situated  at  Miji,  the  famous  tea  producing  district,  near 
Kyoto.  The  left  wing  of  the  Hooden  represents  the  Fujiwara  style  of 
Japanese  architecture  in  vogue  from  the  tenth  to  the  thirteenth  centuries. 
In  this  pavilion  is  a  room  which  reproduces  a  salon  in  which  the  court 
nobles  used  to  spend  their  leisure  in  music  and  poetry. 

Phoenix   Appears    Everywhere. 

The  right  wing  of  the  building  shows  the  architecture  of  the  Ashikagu 
period,  corresponding  in  general  history  to  the  time  when  Columbus 
was  discovering  America.  The  main  or  central  pavilion  is  in  the  style 
of  Takugawas,  which  began  in  the  eighteenth  century  in  Japan  and  still 
obtains.  One  of  the  rooms  in  this  central  pavilion  represents  the  sitting- 
room  of  a  feudal  lord.  The  central  wall  is  covered  with  a  huge  pine, 
the  emblem  of  strength  and  glory. 

It  is  in  one  of  the  other  rooms  of  the  central  palace  that  the  most 
magnificent  and  most  typical  Japanese  decoration  is  done.  The  tra- 
ditionary phoenixes,  executed  in  gold  and  colors  on  handsome  panels, 
are  encased  in  squares  of  lacquer  work  to  form  t}ie  ceiling.  The  golden 
phcenix  is  used  everywhere  in  the  decoration  of  the  room,  and  the  effect 
is  marvelously  beautiful.  A  gilded  phcenix  spreads  its  wings,  too,  over 
the  roof  of  this  central  pavilion,  and  appears  on  everything  Japanese  on 
the  grounds.  The  rooms  of  the  Hooden  are  all  furnished  in  the  style 
of  the  periods  which  the  different  pavilions  represent. 

The  Hooden  is  not  the  only  Japanese  pavilion  on  the  grounds, 
however.  There  is  a  village  in  the  Midway  Plaisance,  and  a  number  of 
handsome  pavilions  in  the  different  exhibit  buildings. 

A  Visit  to  the  Tea  Garden. 

The  World's  Fair,  abounding  as  it  does  in  delightful  revelations, 
affords  few  more  curiously  interesting  than  the  little  Japanese  tea  gar- 
den, located  on  the  sloping  bank  of  the  lagoon,  near  the  French  marine 
cafe.  Though  purely  exotic,  this  garden,  if  one  may  form  an  estimate 
from  the  class  and  extent  of  its  patronage,  has  caught  the  fancy  of  dis- 
criminating tourists,  for  nowhere  on  the  Fair  grounds  can  an  hour's  re- 
spite from  wearisome  sight-seeing  be  more  pleasantly  employed. 


586  CURIOSITIES  FROM  JAPAN. 

Attendant  ladies  and  gentlemen,  assisted  by  discreet  household  servants, 
with  suavity  and  winning  smiles  welcome  visitors  and  invite  participa- 
tion in  the  refined  luxuries  of  Japanese  home  life.  In  this,  as  in  all  the 


JAPANESE   TEA   HOUSE. 

rest  of  their  contributions  to  the  great  international  exhibition,  these 
people  have  shown  remarkable  enterprise,  sparing  neither  labor  nor  ex- 
pense in  making  them  attractive. 

Surrounded  by  a  tall  bamboo  fence,  the  garden  is  shaded  by  spread- 
ing trees  and  laid  off  with  walks,  flower-beds,  pond,  stepping  stones, 


CURIOSITIES  FROM  JAPAN.  587 

and  artificial  hills,  interspersed  with  rustic  seats,  storks  in  bronze,  and 
real  Japanese  porcelain  lanterns,  besides  being  decorated  with  dwarf 
trees,  Japanese  and  American  flags,  bright-colored  paper  lanterns  and 
hanging  baskets.  They  have  native  azalias  and  tea  plants  growing 
there.  The  ornamental  lanterns,  which  resemble  large  vases  standing 
amid  the  growing  plants,  and  which  are  requisite  to  a  tea  garden,  are 
valued  at  $250  each.  The  furniture  in  the  tea  house,  which  is  very 
valuable,  is  the  property  of  Mr.  Samo,  president  of  this  tea  colony.  It 
is  said  to  be  worth  $20,000.  Mr.  Samo,  a  wealthy  gentleman,  is  the 
possessor  of  one  of  the  rarest  collections  of  Japanese  curios  extant, 
a  considerable  portion  of  which  he  has  brought  with  him  to  these 
shores. 

A  Delicious  Beverage. 

Mrs.  K.  Morimoto,  wife  of  a  Japanese  artist  of  distinction  temporarily 
sojourning  here,  is  a  valuable  member  of  the  tea  company.  An  ex- 
pert in  the  making  of  tea,  and  a  lady  whose  social  advantages  qualify 
her  for  dispensing  the  same  formally  and  according  to  the .  strictest 
rules  of  etiquette,  she  performs  for  visitors  what  is  known  as  the  "  tea 
ceremony,"  merely  signifying  the  proper  manner  of  serving  the 
delicious  beverage  to  one's  guest.  She  is  youthful,  prepossessing,  and 
the  daughter  of  a  prominent  Japanese  government  official.  Being 
modest  and  exceedingly  well  bred,  the  little  lady  is  unable  to  withstand 
the  apparent  rudeness  of  persons  whose  curiosity  gets  the  better  of 
their  polite  behavior.  Too  many  staring  at  once  brings  a  blush  to  her 
cheeks. 

Only  the  powdered  article  is  served  in  Japan  at  a  "  formal  tea." 
Directly  on  arrival  of  the  guests,  who  are  expected  to  appear  on  such 
occasions  in  full  dress,  they  are  seated  in  the  tea  house  within  the  tea 
garden,  and  the  beverage  served  to  each  of  them  separately.  The 
fixtures  of  the  room  and  surroundings  generally  are  always  the  same. 

The  bamboo  dipper  in  which  tea  is  served  very  properly  is  attached 
to  the  lid  of  the  tea-pot.  Above  a  large  porcelain  vessel  containing  a 
charcoal  fire,  is  placed  the  kettle.  Cute  little  lacquered  caddies  are 
used  for  holding  powdered  tea,  and  a  crepe  or  silk  cloth  called  the 
"  fukusa  "  is  held  in  the  hostess'  hand  for  the  purpose  of  removing  flecks 
of  scattered  tea  dust.  When  the  water  has  reached  the  proper  degree 
of  heat  the  lady  deftly  pours  the  powdered  tea  from  the  caddy  and  the 
water  from  the  kettle  simultaneously  into  the  bamboo  dipper,  and 
proceeds  to  stir  it  carefully  with  a  "  chasen,"  a  sort  of  "  feather  brush  " 
made  of  bamboo,  one  end  of  which  is  chopped  into  fine  shreds. 


588  CURIOSITIES   FROM  JAPAN. 

Genteel  Custom  of  Serving  Tea. 

Right  here  are  the  two  operations  upon  which  depend  the  success  of 
powdered  tea-making.  A  novice  will  spoil  it  by  improperly  mixing  the 
water  and  tea  together  or  through  inexperience  in  stirring.  The  latter 
operation  requires  deftness  and  long  practice,  while  the  former  is 
nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  piece  of  legerdemain.  When  ready,  the 
draught  of  tea  in  the  dipper  is  served  by  the  hostess  or  maid,  accom- 
panied by  an  elaborate  bow. 

In  serving  the  maid  holds  the  vessel  containing  the  tea  high  up,  even 
with  the  top  of  her  head,  and  after  bowing  and  serving  it  in  a  sitting 
posture  she  arises  and  returns  to  her  place,  walking  backward. 

First,  the  requisite  number  of  cups  are  filled  with  water  that  is  hot,  and 
while  it  is  cooling  the  lady  places  some  tea  leaves  in  the  teapot  and 
pours  the  contents  of  all  of  the  cups  over  them.  This  is  allowed  to 
stand  only  a  brief  while,  when  it  is  again  poured  into  the  cups  and 
served.  In  taking  tea  leaves  from  a  caddy  Japanese  ladies  use  a  piece 
of  ornamented  bamboo  in  lieu  of  a  teaspoon.  These  bamboo  spoons 
are  heirlooms,  for  beside  their  expensive  decorations,  which  run  as  high 
as  $50  or  $60  in  value,  they  generally  have  drawn  on  their  surfaces 
their  own  history,  recording  names  of  original  and  subsequent  owners. 

Concerning  the  history  and  use  of  tea  in  Japan,  Karl  Morimoto,  who 
is  connected  with  the  Japanese  section  in  the  Manufactures  and  Liberal 
Arts  Building,  kindly  contributes  the  following  terse  and  interesting 
sketch : 

"  It  is  very  hard  to  tell  the  origin  of  the  tea.  About  600  years  ago, 
at  the  time  of  the  'Ashikaga  '  Shogun,  the  tea  was  enjoyed,  not  by  the 
common  people,  as  it  is  now,  but  by  the  noblemen  of  Japan.  Of  course* 
they  did  not  know  the  luxuries  of  life,  and  used  very  rough  and  cheap 
articles  for  serving  the  tea,  which  now  are  greatly  admired  and  cost  a 
great  deal  of  money  to  buy  because  of  their  being  antique — for  instance, 
a  dirty  looking  teacup  is  worth  sometimes  over  $300 — the  older,  the 
costlier. 

How  Tea  is  Prepared  for  Market. 

"Unless  you  know  the  reason  why  you  cannot  appreciate,  and  it 
seems  to  you  very  ridiculous  to  pay  so  much  money  for  a  teacup. 
Indeed,  it  is  a  matter  of  taste.  There  is  a  great  demand  for  them  in 
France,  since  the  French  are  well  acquainted  with  this  sort  of  things. 
Six  years  after  it  is  planted  the  tea  leaves  are  picked,  and  some  of  the 
plants  are  100  years  old.  The  midspring  is  the  season  of  the  fresh  tea. 

"  In  Japan  they  first  pick  the  fresh  leaves  from  the  plants,  sort  them 


CURIOSITIES   FROM  JAPAN.  589 

with  chop-sticks,  and  moderately  heat  them  over  a  charcoal  fire,  and  at 
the  same  time  the  leaves  are  rolled  up  by  the  hands.  The  '  Giokuro,' 
one  of  the  best  teas,  is  made  as  mentioned  above. 

"  In  this  country  the  '  basket-fired '  is  very  popular  now,  which  takes 
its  name  from  its  being  heated  over  the  baskets.  As  far  as  the  quality 
is  concerned,  it  ranks  lower  than  the  '  Giokuro.' 

"  I  think  it  is  very  interesting  to  you  to  tell  the  difference  between  the 
colored  and  the  uncolored  tea.  I  am  told  that  the  Chinese  use  some 
stuffs  1o  color  their  tea,  but  Japan  tea,  the  colored  or  uncolored,  is  pure 
and  safe.  The  colorless  Japan  tea  is  the  first  fresh  leaves  that  are  mod- 
erately heated  over  the  fire,  while  the  colored  is  heated  very  thoroughly. 
To  get  the  proper  temperature  of  heat  is  a  very  hard  thing. 

"  The  most  important  places,  noted  for  the  best  tea  in  Japan,  are  Uji 
and  Yenshu  and  Sayama.  We  have  in  Japan  two  kinds  of  the  tea,  the 
powdered  and  the  Shencha.  The  latter  is  what  you  drink  in  your 
house.  But  the  noblemen  of  Japan  are  very  fond  of  the  powdered  tea. 

"If you  go  in  any  house  in  Japan  the  first  thing  they  treat  you  to  is 
tea,  and  it  is  not  unusual  to  see  a  tea-kettle  singing  over  the  fire  in  the 
'  hibach '  or  the  '  po.'  It  was  about  thirty  years  ago  that  Mas  Akei 
Oura,  a  Japanese  lady  in  Nagasaki,  entertained  some  American  ladies 
with  tea.  The  ladies  liked  it  very  much,  and  commended  it  to  their 
homes.  That  was  the  beginning  of  the  tea  exportation  from  Japan  to 
this  country,  and  now  it  stands  next  to  silk  in  the  exports  from  Japan." 

Surprising  Advance  in  Education. 

One  hundred  and  twenty  tons  is  the  weight  of  the  Japanese  school 
exhibit  at  the  Columbian  Exposition.  There  is  probably  no  other  na- 
tion on  the  earth  whose  showing  in  this  line  is  more  interesting.  To 
the  western  mind  anything  like  modern  systems  of  gniding  is  not 
dreamed  of  in  connection  with  the  schools  of  Japan.  And  yet  the  dis- 
plays show  an  acquaintance  with  all  that  is  best  in  approved  methods  of 
teaching.  There  are  primary,  intermediate  and  high  schools,  manual 
training  schools,  institutes  of  technology,  schools  of  agriculture  and  of 
kindred  applied  sciences,  and  finally,  the  imperial  university  in  which 
advanced  learning  has  long  had  a  home. 

The  schools  of  Japan  are  supported  in  part  by  a  local  tax  in  which 
the  community  contributes  to  the  expense  of  instructing  its  youth,  and 
part  by  a  fund  set  aside  by  the  imperial  government,  the  ground  for  its 
use  being  a  belief  that  the  nation  is  enriched  by  the  improved  education 
of  its  people.  The  schools  supported  by  the  government  are  under  the 
supervision  and  control  of  the  Japanese  minister  of  education,  while 


590  CURIOSITIES   FROM  JAPAN. 

those  which  depend  upon  the  general  school  tax  for  their  finances  are 
controlled  and  supervised  by  the  officials  of  the  prefecture  in  which  they 
are  established.  In  the  entire  nation  of  40,000,000  people  there  are  at 
least  20,000  elementary  schools,  which  is  a  showing  quite  as  commend- 
able as  can  be  made  by  any  western  European  nation.  It  is  probable 
the  pupils  and  people  of  Japan  know  more  about  geography,  about  the 
manners,  histories,  resources  and  present  interests  of  other  nations  than 
do  any  people  of  Asia  or  any  but  the  most  advanced  in  Europe. 

Modern  Methods  Adopted. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  items  in  the  Japanese  educational  exhibit 
is  the  history  of  their  educational  system  from  the  beginning.  This  is 
printed  in  various  languages  and  distributed  among  those  interested  in 
Japanese  progress.  It  shows  that  while  the  original  duties  of  loyalty  to 
the  emperor  and  obedience  to  parents  are  still  the  keystones  of  national 
virtue,  as  they  always  have  been,  many  changes  in  the  form  of  instruc- 
tion have  been  made.  At  the  beginning  of  the  last  century  contact 
with  the  Dutch  gave  Japan  a  start  in  progressive  instruction,  and  the 
teachers  have  adopted  as  rapidly  as  possible  the  methods  that  have 
seemed  best  to  them.  In  this  eclectic  system  the  German  has  contri- 
buted perhaps  more  than  any  other  nation,  though  some  features  of  the 
French  have  been  found  desirable. 

The  exhibit  contains  specimens  from  the  girls'  industrial  schools — 
and  more  than  anything  else,  this  emphasizes  the  change  of  sentiment 
which  but  a  few  years  ago  discouraged  the  education  of  women.  From 
these  schools,  composed  of  400  girl  pupils,  samples  of  drawing,  artificial 
flowers,  embroidery,  knitting  and  sewing  were  taken  to  show  western 
nations  how  deft  and  artistic  are  the  maidens  of  the  mikado's  land. 

No  Private  Schools. 

In  the  medical  line  much  of  interest  is  shown.  More  than  500 
students  are  now  busy  in  the  Japanese  medical  schools.  Some  of  their 
teachers  are  the  men  who  have  been  sent  to  America  or  to  European 
countries  at  government  expense,  and  who  have  returned  home  to  teach 
when  their  education  has  been  completed.  The  government  has 
always  been  hostile  to  private  schools,  as  not  of  profit  to  the  citizen,  and 
for  that  reason  has  ever  generously  encouraged  progressive  education. 
Many  foreigners  have  been  employed  in  their  schools  and  academies  as 
teachers,  but  these  conditions  are  gradually  changing.  The  Japanese 
have  now  a  sufficient  number  of  their  own  men  trained  in  all  that  makes 
a  modern  scholar,  and  these  have  taken  the  places  of  those  who  formerly 
taught  them, 


CURIOSITIES   FROM   JAPAN.  591 

Public  support  of  the  non-resident  student  has  also  been  largely  with- 
drawn, and  to-day  many  Japanese  young  men  go  home  graduates  from 
American  or  European  colleges  only  to  find  public  employment  closed 
against  them  by  a  complete  supply  of  teachers.  Many  of  them  go  into 
business,  the  better  for  their  training  and  travel.  Occasionally  they 
attempt  independent  schools  of  learning,  but  these  are  not  encouraged, 
as  the  national  educational  system  must  conform  to  adopted  plans. 

No  Whipping  of  Pupils. 

The  school  age  of  a  Japanese  child  is  from  the  sixth  to  the  fourteenth 
year.  Corporal  punishment  is  prohibited,  and  men  who  are  informed 
in  the  matter  declare  that  the  gentle  nature  of  the  Japanese  child  and  a 
certain  national  pride  which  has  always  been  cultivated  render  the  more 
brutal  discipline  unnecessary. 

Some  years  ago  the  emperor  published  a  rescript  inculcating  moral 
duties,  and  this  address,  framed  and  surmounted  with  a  photograph  of 
the  emperor,  was  hung  in  the  schools.  In  America  it  would,  issued  by 
the  President,  have  won  scarcely  the  attention  of  a  second  reading ;  and 
the  photograph,  after  two  days,  would  have  invited  every  mischievous 
boy  in  school  to  aim  paper  wads  and  bits  of  crayon.  But  in  Japan  the 
effect  was  tremendous.  Children  looked  upon  the  address  as  a  thing  to 
remember  and  ponder.  Both  they  and  the  teachers  make  obeisance  to 
the  photograph  before  they  begin  the  school  work  of  the  day.  The 
little  frame  has  become  an  almost  sacred  thing,  and  the  scholars  are 
better  because  the  emperor  wants  them  to  be  so. 

A  Professor  of  Earthquakes. 

The  national  scheme  of  education  includes  eight  universities,  thirty- 
two  high  schools  256  grammar  schools,  and  55,000  primary  schools. 
The  plan  is  not  fully  filled  out,  but  progress  in  that  direction  is  making 
every  year.  It  was  an  immense  undertaking,  considering  the  conserva- 
tive character  of  the  people  ;  but  its  final  and  early  development  is 
assured.  Much  attention  is  paid  to  foreign  sciences  and  to  law.  In  the 
latter  the  Roman  law  forms,  as  usual,  the  foundation,  though  some 
portions  of  the  code  Napoleon  have  been  laid  under  contribution. 

Now,  as  an  outgrowth  of  these  many  schools,  there  has  risen  a  later 
literature  of  Japan.  Books  on  medicine,  law  and  educational  subjects, 
text-books  and  charts  have  been  published.  These  form  a  part  of  the 
exhibit.  Kindergarten  methods  are  by  no  means  unknown,  and  their 
products  are  displayed.  But  the  most  remarkable  by  far  are  the  instru- 
ments connected  with  the  scientific  study  of  earthquakes.  It  will  be 


592  CURIOSITIES   FROM  JAPAN. 

remembered  Japan  is  subject  to  seismic  disturbances,  but  it  is  not  gener- 
ally known  that  the  imperial  university  maintains  a  chair  devoted  to 
their  study.  "  A  professor  of  earthquakes  !"  exclaimed  a  Chicago  man 
when  told  of  this  strange  teacher.  Yet  that  is,  in  brief,  the  province  of 
this  instructor.  The  study  of  earthquakes  there  has  been  reduced  to  a 
science,  at  least  as  exact  as  that  of  medicine,  and  the  instruments  of  its 
demonstration  form  a  not  unimportant  portion  of  the  Japanese  educa- 
tional exhibit. 

i 

Worked  Five  Years  on  one  Exhibit. 

Japanese  patience  is  proverbial.  A  remarkable  example  of  what  it 
will  accomplish  when  combined  with  manual  and  artistic  skill  is  exhib- 
ited. It  is  a  hand-carved  iron  eagle,  the  work  of  a  Japanese  artist, 
Shinjiro  Ita-o,  of  the  province  of  Ki-i,  and  it  took  him  just  five  years  to 
make  it.  It  is  two  feet  in  height  and  measures  from  tip  to  tip  of  the 
extended  wings  five  feet,  the  weight  being  133  pounds.  The  head  is  so 
constructed  that  it  will  swerve  from  side  to  side  like  that  of  a  live  bird. 

The  bird  has  more  than  3,000  feathers  made  separately  by  hand,  the 
lines  on  each  numbering  several  hundred,  and  many  of  them  of  such 
remarkable  fineness  that  in  order  to  preserve  their  uniformity  of  appear- 
ance a  fresh  tool  had  to  be  employed  after  cutting  three  or  four  of  them. 
This  will  give  some  idea  of  the  patience  and  care  required  for  the  suc- 
cessful accomplishment  of  the  work. 

Shinjiro  Ita-o  captured  two  eagles.  One  he  killed  and  stuffed,  and 
the  other  he  kept  alive.  He  used  both  as  models  so  that  while  engaged 
on  the  work  he  might  study  the  bird  both  in  repose  and  action. 


M 


CHAPTER    XXX. 
Mexico  and  South  American  Countries. 

EXICO  makes  a  particularly  fine  display  in  the  department 
of  mines  and  mining  and  manufactures.  The  pavilion  in 
the  Manufactures  Building  shows  the  rarest  products  of  the 
republic.  This  exhibit  is  very  comprehensive,  and  to  many 
who  have  been  led  to  believe  that  Mexico  is  far  behind  the  times  in  the 
arts  it  is  a  great  revelation. 

The  departments  in  which  the  exhibits  show  particular  excellence 
are  the  products  of  the  loom.  These  include  both  cotton  and  woolen 
fabrics,  of  which  there  are  a  great  many  varieties.  In  the  matter  of 
quality,  finish  and  coloring,  these  exhibits  compare  favorably  with  the 
products  of  other  countries.  The  woolen  fabrics  particularly,  both  in 
the  line  of  blanketing  and  wearing  apparel,  make  a  fine  showing. 

Costly  Sombreros. 

The  hat  exhibit  is  of  course  elaborate  in  extent  and  unique  in  design 
and  decoration.  No  article  of  his  apparel  receives  so  much  critical 
attention  from  the  Mexican  as  his  sombrero.  He  can  put  up  with  me- 
diocrity, or  even  inferiority,  in  some  other  articles  of  dress,  but  when 
on  his  native  heath  nothing  short  of  the  finest  material  and  most 
elaborate  decoration  will  satisfy  the  Mexican  gentleman  when  it  comes 
to  a  question  of  headgear.  Some  of  these  head  decorations  cost  as 
high  as  $100  and  upward.  A  common  everyday  hat,  such  as  is  worn 
by  a  gentleman  who  makes  any  pretensions  whatever  to  dress,  will  cost 
from  £25  to  $50. 

Among  the  exhibits,  however,  which  attract  the  most  attention  from 
visitors,  are  the  products  of  the  original  Mexicans  or  Indians.  These 
include  pottery  wares  of  unique  design  and  decoration ;  all  sorts  of  use- 
ful articles  made'of  highly  polished  horn,  in  the  working  of  which  the 
natives  are  very  skillful ;  beautifully  carved  canes,  some  of  which  are 
overlaid  with  tortoise  shells  so  skillfully  joined  together  as  to  look  like 
a  solid  piece ;  many  varieties  of  ornaments  and  useful  articles  carved 
from  beautiful  vari-colored  onyx. 

The  cordage  exhibit,  made  from  the  fiber  of  the  heniquen  plant,  is 
also  a  very  interesting  one.  Another  interesting  exhibit  is  that  of 
hand-made  copper  vessels  manufactured  by  the  natives. 

38  593 


594 


MEXICO  AND   SOUTH   AMERICAN   COUNTRIES. 


Mexican  onyx  also  forms  an  important  part  of  the  display.  There 
are  many  large  slabs  of  the  stone,  which  was  quarried  in  Pueblo.  These 
have  been  polished  and  are  all  ready  to  be  shaped  for  decorating  pur- 
poses. In  one  of  the  show  cases  are  the  manufactured  onyx  articles. 


COLUMBUS    MONUMENT    IN    MEXICO. 

These  range  from  a  paper-weight  pear  of  the  carved  stone  to  immense 
placques  on  which  have  been  painted  pictures  of  Mexican  home  life. 
The  onyx  is  worked  in  the  main  by  the  Indians  and  no  little  skill  is 
shown  in  the  fashioning  of  the  stone  and  decorating. 


MEXICO   AND   SOUTH   AMERICAN   COUNTRIES.  595 

A  great  feature  of  Mexico's  Fair  exhibit  is  the  beautiful  throne  chair 
and  canopy  placed  in  the  center  of  the  north  end  of  the  Gallery  of 
Honor.  It  was  the  work  of  the  young  women  in  the  Normal  School 
of  the  City  of  Mexico,  and  was  loaned  by  Mrs.  Diaz,  the  wife  of  the 
President  of  the  Republic.  The  chair  belongs  to  the  National  Palace 
and  is  placed  in  the  salon  where  the  President  receives  all  foreign 
Ministers  on  state  occasions. 

The  chair  and  canopy  were  exhibited  in  the  Exposition  of  Paris  in 
1889  and  received  two  gold  medals  and  one  grand  prize.  At  the  New 
Orleans  Exposition  it  received  three  gold  medals  and  a  grand  diploma 
of  honor.  The  throne  seat  is  constructed  to  represent  three  periods  in 
the  history  of  Mexico.  The  crown  plated  with  gold  typifies  the  Aztec 
epoch,  and  it  is  carved  with  signs  representing  the  months,  years,  and 
phases  of  the  moon.  In  the  center  is  the  coat  of  arms  of  Mexico. 

Rich  Embroideries  and  Rare  Jewels. 

Falling  from  the  crown  is  the  canopy,  the  upper  curtain  of  crimson 
brocaded  silk  lined  with  white  brocade.  Along  the  border  is  em- 
broidered the  coat  of  arms  of  the  principal  cities  of  Mexico  in  gold 
thread.  The  coat  of  arms  of  the  City  of  Mexico  is  embroidered  on  a 
shield  of  silk  and  is  suspended  over  the  chair.  This  curtain  represents 
the  Spanish  domination,  a  period  of  300  years. 

The  second  curtain  represents  the  republic,  a  time  of  peace,  and  it  is 
crimson  plush  lined  with  white  brocade.  .  Its  border  is  embroidered  in 
roses  and  laurel  with  gold  and  silver  thread.  The  chair  of  red  silk  is 
placed  on  a  raised  platform  covered  with  red  cloth.  The  legs  of  the 
chair  are  formed  from  the  head  and  wings  of  the  eagle.  On  the  back 
of  the  chair  is  the  monogram  "  R.  M.'' — Republic  of  Mexico — inter- 
woven with  the  laurel  wreath. 

Mexico  is  also  represented  by  rare  and  exquisite  needlework,  which 
has  been  placed  in  locked  cases  in  the  rotunda.  Much  of  the  work  was 
done  by  the  nuns,  and  consists  of  priests'  and  Bishops'  vestments  and 
church  decorations.  One  miter  for  the  Bishop's  head  is  of  white  satin 
embroidered  in  gold  and  set  with  rubies,  garnets,  and  emeralds. 
Another  miter  of  similar  workmanship  is  set  with  pearls  and  diamonds. 

One  of  the  first  vestments  placed  over  a  Bishop  is  woven  of  silver 
and  gold  cloth,  heavily  embroidered  with  gold  roses,  in  the  center  of 
which  is  set  a  precious  stone.  Another  piece  of  work  of  silver  tissue, 
lined  with  blue  silk,  is  a  scarf  six  yards  long,  used  for  draping  an  altar 
in  the  church.  In  the  center  of  the  scarf  is  a  silver  lamb,  placed  on  a 
Bible,  and  the  Bible  rests  on  the  cross.  At  either  side  is  an  angel 


596  MEXICO   AND   SOUTH    AMERICAN   COUNTRIES. 

kneeling  in  the  attitude  of  prayer.     A   picture  of  the    Holy  Virgin, 
worked  on  satin,  is  200  years  old. 

Brazil  at  the  Exposition. 

The  members  of  the  Brazilian  World's  Fair  Commission  arrived  in 
Chicago,  April  I3th,  and  proceeded  at  once  to  install  their  exhibits. 
Said  the  chief  of  the  Commission  : 

"  We  were  thirty-six  days  on  the  ocean.  We  left  Brazil  February 
25th,  on  the  steamer  Seguranca.  We  brought  with  us  a  large  part  of 
our  exhibit,  1,800  packages  and  bales,  which  formed  the  bulk  of  the 
ship's  cargo.  Our  exhibit  consists  of  specimens  of  all  the  products  of 
the  soil,  coffee,  spices  and  woods  from  all  the  Brazilian  States,  about 
150  paintings  and  a  large  number  of  marble  statues.  One  statue,  by 
Dr.  Julio  Brandao,  is  a  life  size  figure  of  Christ  in  white  marble.  Then 
we  have  a  solid  piece  of  rubber,  ten  feet  in  diameter  and  about  twelve 
feet  long.  There  is  also  a  fine  collection  of  coins,  specimens  of  our 
gold,  silver  and  copper  ores,  together  with  various  kinds  of  precious 
stones. 

"  What  we  take  special  pride  in,  though,  is  our  coffee  exhibit.  We 
will  serve  coffee  to  the  people  free  of  charge,  and  let  them  get  some  idea 
of  what  genuine  coffee  is.  This  portion  of  the  show  is  under  the 
special  patronage  of  an  association  of  coffee  merchants  which  has  pre- 
sented Brazil's  claims  as  the  banner  coffee- producing  nation  at  sixty 

expositions." 

Relics  of  the  Incas. 

The  Peruvian  exhibit  was  sent  direct  from  the  Peruvian  Exhibition, 
which  was  opened  in  Lima,  December  II,  1892.  The  direct  object  of 
the  Peruvian  Exposition  was  to  collect  a  display  from  all  parts  of  the 
country  to  be  forwarded  to  the  Fair  at  Chicago. 

The  Exposition  was  opened  by  the  Peruvian  President  and  his  cabinet 
officers,  together  with  the  ministers  of  council  and  the  diplomatic  corps. 
It  makes  a  thorough  display  of  the  manufactures,  mineral  and  agricul- 
tural resources  of  Peru,  and  forms  an  interesting  addition  to  the  World's 
Fair  wonders. 

The  Exposition  contains  an  excellent  display  of  the  articles  manu- 
factured in  Peru,  consisting  of  cloths,  cotton,  and  wool,  furniture,  wines, 
boots  and  shoes,  fancy  goods,  wood-work,  and  an  interesting  collection 
of  the  antiquities  of  the  country,  consisting  of  mummified  remains,  articles 
of  ancient  Peru,  curios  in  gold  and  silver  and  copper,  pieces  of  the 
ancient  fabrics  of  the  Incas,  and  a  variety  of  other  articles  illustrating 
the  pre-historic  wealth  and  development  of  the  country.  The  mineral 


MEXICO  AND  SOUTH  AMERICAN  COUNTRIES.  597 

resources  of  Peru  are  particularly  well  represented  in  large  collections 
of  gold  and  silver  and  copper  ores  of  the  country,  and  the  section 
devoted  to  the  art  department  is  by  no  means  inconsiderable.  In  this 
art  collection  is  a  great  National  painting  of  Atahaualpa,  the  ancient 
Inca  king. 

Dead  Men  from  Peru. 

The  exhibit  also  contains  125  mummies.  They  were  dug  up  in  Peru, 
after  a  peculiar  fashion,  and  shipped  to  Chicago  for  exhibition  at  the 
Columbian  show.  Nobody  knows  the  age  of  these  mummies.  It  is 
certain  that  they  were  men  and  women  of  more  or  less  fame  before 
Vasco  Nunez  de  Balboa,  the  Spanish  governor  of  Darien,  learned  that 
the  country  south  of  the  isthmus  was  rich  in  gold  and  silver.  It  is  pos- 
sible that  they  were  buried  in  their  peculiar  tombs  even  as  early  as  the 
thirteenth  century.  They  are  old-timers  at  any  rate  and  are  an  impor- 
tant feature  of  the  exhibit  of  the  bureau  of  ethnology.  The  coming  of 
these  veterans  of  Peru  caused  little  comment  at  the  grounds.  They  came 
in  a  common  car,  they  received  a  perfunctory  transfer,  and  they  were 
stacked  like  so  many  slabs  of  bacon  upon  the  receiving  tables  of  the 
warehouse. 

It  is  evident  that  they  had  been  buried  with  some  pomp,  for  the  bodies 
are  decorated  with  the  plumage  of  parrots,  the  green,  the  yellow  and  the 
red  feathers  of  the  garrulous  bird  about  the  corpses  being  as  brilliant  to- 
day as  they  were  500  years  ago,  when  they  brushed  against  the  foliage 
of  the  trees  of  Peru.  There  had  to  be  mummies  at  the  World's  Fair. 
Some  were  to  come  from  Egypt,  while  others  were  to  be  dragged  from 
the  tombs  in  the  republic  of  South  America.  The  125  mummies  v/ere 
found  in  the  ancient  graveyards  of  Peru.  The  emissaries  of  the  Exposi- 
tion took  shovels,  made  an  excavation  about  ten  square  feet  in  a  promis- 
ing yard  of  the  dead,  and,  having  struck  a  good  lead,  spread  canvas 
covered  with  straw  under  the  body  of  each  ancient  and  estimable 
Peruvian.  The  bodies  were  in  an  excellent  state  of  preservation,  the 
emaciation  being  little  less  than  that  noticed  in  a  consumptive,  and  the 
hair  and  beards  remaining  as  natural  as  when  they  accentuated  the 
natural  beauty  of  their  owners.  Thus  wrapped  in  canvas  and  straw, 
each  mummy  was  stitched  up  like  a  bag  of  salt  and  brought  to  Chicago. 
They  are  in  that  condition  to-day,  with  the  brilliant  parrot  feathers  still 
covering  their  heads  and  breasts. 

Sacrificed  Human  Beings. 

Lieutenant  Tisdel,  who  has  been  collecting  relics  of  the  pre-historic 
South  and  Central  Americans  in  the  interest  of  the  Latin- American 


698  MEXICO  AND  SOUTH  AMERICAN  COUNTRIES. 

Bureau,  discovered  a  metal  group  of  statuary  which  confirms  the  belief 
of  many  in  the  theory  that  human  sacrifices  were  practiced  among  the 
first  dwellers  of  South  America. 

This  group  was  taken  from  an  ancient  tomb  near  Truxilo  in  Peru. 
It  consists  of  several  figures  of  savages  engaged  in  holding  a  human 
body  in  the  flames  of  a  fire  built  upon  an  altar.  The  body  rests  upon 
a  platform  evidently  intended  to  represent  a  grating.  In  the  rear  are 
seated  several  figures  which  appear  to  represent  the  judges  of  the  execu- 
tion. The  entire  group  is  a  faithful  portrayal  of  the  physical  types  of 
the  ancient  Peruvians,  as  derived  from  measurements  of  mummies  found 
in  the  vicinity,  and  from  the  hieroglyphics  upon  the  tombs  of  the  Incas. 


VENEZUELA   BUILDING. 

The  collection  made  by  Lieutenant  Tisdel  also  includes  many  gold, 
silver  and  copper  ornaments  taken  from  ancient  tombs  in  the  interior  of 
South  America.  There  are  also  many  objects  composed  of  a  metal 
entirely  unknown  to  the  metallurgists  of  the  present  time.  The  entire 
collection  forms  an  interesting  feature  of  Professor  Putnam's  ethnological 
department. 

What  Uruguay  Exhibits. 

Appreciating  the  ties  of  political  and  commercial  interest  as  well  as 
those  of  sentiment  arising  from  a  community  of  democratic  ideas  and 
the  benefits  to  be  derived  from  a  freer  interchange  of  products  and 
manufactures,  the  authorities  of  the  Uruguayan  Government  accepted 
the  invitation  to  take  part  in  the  fourth  century  of  the  discovery  of 
America.  They  voted  the  necessary  means  to  provide  a  good  govern- 
ment display,  and  delegated  to  the  rural  association,  a  body  composed  of 


MEXICO   AND   SOUTH   AMERICAN   COUNTRIES.  599 

the  most  prominent  citizens  of  the  country,  the  execution  of  the  pro- 
posed work. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  principal  articles  sent  to  Chicago : 
Model  of  the  great  meat  preserving  establishment  of  Fray-Bentos, 
Liebig's  Extract  of  Meat  company,  which  is  one  of  the  most  important 
and  extensive  of  its  kind  in  the  world,  occupies  a  central  location  in  the 
Uruguayan  section,  competing  for  notice  with  similar  products  from 
Australia  and  the  United  States.  The  Oriental  and  La  Estrella  distil- 
leries, provided  with  all  modern  machinery,  show  the  excellence  of  their 
spirits,  which  have  taken  high  rank  at  other  Expositions. 

Magnificent  photograph  albums  represent  the  principal  public  edifices 
and  private  dwellings  of  Montevideo,  with  panoramic  views  of  interiors, 
bridges,  railway  stations,  tunnels,  rural  establishments  and  industries 
and  country  scenes ;  and  there  is  also  shown  a  very  fine  collection  of 
portraits  of  Uruguayan  beauties.  The  wine  growers  of  Uruguay  are 
represented  by  a  number  of  special  galleries  filled  with  the  products  of 
the  vines.  Each  sample  is  accompanied  by  a  chemical  analysis  and  a 
full  description  of  the  vineyard  from  which  it  came. 

A  considerable  space  is  given  to  general  agricultural  products,  such 
as  wheat,  maize,  barley,  rye,  sorghum,  flax  and  many  varieties  of  to- 
bacco, as  well  as  to  specimens  of  ramie,  the  fibre  of  which  is  very  valu- 
able. Samples  of  natural  and  cultivated  forage,  earths  for  plastic  pur- 
poses, and  collections  of  indigenous  and  imported  woods  are  in- 
cluded. Cattle-breeders  send  specimens  of  all  the  different  forms  of  dry 
and  salted  meats,  fats  and  other  animal  products.  This  is  supplemented 
by  an  exceptionally  good  display  of  the  wool  growers  and  sheep  breeders, 
the  wools  from  Uruguay  being  noted  for  their  elasticity,  fineness  and 
softness.  Public  instruction  is  officially  represented,  showing  the  prog- 
ress made.  A  statistical  and  descriptive  monograph  is  freely  distributed 
in  the  United  States.  This  work  was  done  under  the  direction  of  the 
ministry  of  public  works,  and  shows  the  agricultural  scenes  upon  a  map, 
the  .railway  lines,  telephonic  and  telegraphic  service,  and  all  the  roads, 
mines  and  watercourses. 

Poisoned  Weapons  of  Savage  Tribes. 

Curious  implements  of  savage  warfare,  in  the  shape  of  poisoned  ar- 
rows of  all  sorts  and  sizes,  form  the  nucleus  of  a  strange  collection 
brought  to  the  Fair  by  Lieutenant  Roger  Welles  from  the  jungles  of  the 
Amazon  River  and  its  tributaries.  That  Lieutenant  Welles  and  his 
party  thoroughly  explored  a  great  part  of  those  wild  regions  is  demon- 
strated by  the  heap  of  curios  under  the  sheltering  roof  of  the  anthropo- 
logical annex. 


600  MEXICO   AND    SOUTH   AMERICAN   COUNTRIES. 

The  poisoned  arrows  attract  much  attention.  However  slight  the 
abrasion  of  the  skin  may  be  by  one  of  them,  the  result  is  fatal  to  a  moral 
certainty.  In  comparison  to  projectiles  of  this  nature  a  Gatling  gun  is 
a  mild  terrorizer.  The  bite  of  a  poisoned  arrow  has  no  antidote.  The 
smaller  arrows,  which  are  used  in  the  sarabatanos,  or  blowguns,  are 
harmless  to  men,  but  sure  calamity  to  parrots  and  monkeys. 

In  the  collection  are  a  number  of  quivers  full  of  blowgun  darts  and 
some  fine  specimens  of  the  blowguns.  The  darts  are  made  of  hard 
wood  and  neatly  feathered  with  cotton  wool.  The  points  are  dipped  in 
the  juice  of  the  urari  tree  and  then  carefully  stowed  away  in  the  arrow 
cases.  One  of  the  hunters  will  take  several  hundred  of  these  imple- 
ments of  destruction  along,  and  climbing  into  a  tree  wait  safely  hidden 
by  the  luxurious  foliage  for  the  approach  of  a  herd  of  monkeys  or  flock 
of  parrots.  When  the  prey  arrives  within  sixty  yards  the  long  blow- 
guns  are  brought  into  play,  and  the  noiseless  work  of  slaughter  goes  on 
until  the  flock  is  completely  destroyed.  The  guns  that  carry  the  poi- 
soned darts  are  about  ten  feet  long  and  have  about  the  same  bore  as  a 
twelve  bore  shotgun.  They  are  provided  with  a  mouthpiece  and  bone 
sight,  and  are  wrapped  with  strips  of  bark.  The  natives  obtain  such 
proficiency  in  the  use  of  them  that  they  rarely  ever  miss  an  object. 

Tipped   with    Death. 

But  the  most  deadly-looking  weapons  in  the  arrow  collection  are 
those  prepared  for  manslaughter  or  murder  in  the  first  degree.  They 
are  six  feet  long,  made  of  light  bamboo  and  tipped  with  lignum-vitae. 
Into  the  tip  a  small  hole  is  punched,  and  a  cruel-looking  barb  is  set  in, 
composed  of  fish-bone.  These  little  fish-bone  barbs  are  the  man-killers. 
Exactly  what  they  are  smeared  with  is  not  known,  as  the  substance  is 
obtained  from  the  Indians  of  the  northern  forests  of  Brazil.  At  any 
rate  they  have  the  properties  of  prussic  acid,  corrosive  sublimate, 
strychnine,  arsenic  and  night  shade  all  combined,  and  a  slight  puncture 
from  one  of  them  causes  almost  instant  death.  These  arrows  are  not 
feathered  as  are  those  of  the  North  American  Indians,  but  are  heavily 
weighted  in  the  butt. 

Bows  that  propel  them  are  also  displayed.  They  are  made  of  heavy, 
dark  wood,  are  about  seven  feet  long,  and  are  strung  with  fibrous  cords 
made  from  grass.  The  quiver  which  holds  these  arrows  is  not  much  of 
an  affair,  being  simply  a  cap  to  protect  the  arrow-heads.  Each  arrow- 
head fits  into  a  separate  compartment  to  preclude  accident  to  the  poison 
by  contact  with  each  other. 

The  collection  of  Lieutenant  Welles  numbers  over   300  specimens, 


MEXICO  AND   SOUTH   AMERICAN   COUNTRIES. 


601 


and  contains  boats,  hammocks,  woven  work,  pottery,  javelins,  utensils 
used  in  collecting  india  rubber,  or  seringa,  as  the  natives  call  it ;  articles 
used  in  the  manufacture  of  cavassa,  a  product  of  tapioca;  feather  head- 
dresses and  costumes,  strings  of  monkeys'  teeth,  ornaments  worn  by  the 
Amazon  belles,  household  goods,  woven  grass  water  jars  and  cooking 
utensils,  and  many  specimens  of  implements  of  warfare  and  husbandry. 
There  are  specimens  of  india  rubber  of  all  sorts.  And  also  a  number  of 
india  rubber  shoes. 

A  Savage  Battle-Spear. 
Another  implement  of  destruction  that  deserves  mention  is  the  thigh- 


GUATEMALA    BUILDING. 

spear,  which  is  used  in  battle.  This  arrangement  straps  on  at  the  thigh 
and  presents  a  fierce-looking  point  for  the  opposing  savage  to  go  against. 
A  solid  phalanx  of  thigh  spears  often  caused  the  armies  not  so  equipped 
to  take  refuge  in  the  tree  tops.  The  canoe  or  montanio  is  peculiar, 
being  built  of  five  planks,  which  are  bent  into  shape  by  heat.  Another 
interesting  integer  of  the  collection  is  a  calabash  or  war  rattle  that  is 
used  by  the  Idios  or  Gentios  (heathens)  in  their  sallies  upon  the  in- 
dustrial tribes. 

Still  another  interesting  portion  of  the  collection  is  the  aggregation 
of  so-called  musical  instruments,  the  only  one  of  which  that  produces  a 
resemblance  to  what  goes  for  harmony  among  civilized  people  being 
the  pan  pipes.  The  drum  is  simply  a  hollow  log  covered  with  a  skin 
at  one  end.  When  played  upon,  the  operative  seizes  it  by  its  handle 
and  pounds  the  head  upon  the  ground,  much  as  the  familiar  "  maiden  " 
is  used  in  Chicago  street  construction.  Flageolets,  flutes,  and  other 


602  MEXICO   AND   SOUTH   AMERICAN   COUNTRIES. 

wind  instruments  are  presented,  but  they  appear  incapable  of  any  high 
order  of  sound.  One  of  the  flutes  is  operated  by  running  a  stick  back 
and  forth  over  the  notches. 

Skillful    Handiwork. 

To  do  the  natives  justice,  all  the  implements  show  infinite  pains  in 
construction,  and  the  hand-woven  hammocks  of  grass  texture  are  won- 
derfully executed.  Bamboo  and  grass  are  apparently  the  staple  in  most 
of  the  manufactures  in  that  country,  but  every  article  shows  a  rude  at- 
tempt at  decoration  either  in  carving  or  by  painted  design.  There  are 
a  number  of  whips  in  the  collection  that  are  of  service  in  showing  the 
domestic  relations  of  the  South  Americans,  as  it  is  said  they  are  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  correcting  refractory  wives.  They  are  well  made  and 
highly  ornamented  with  red  and  yellow  ochre,  and  doubtless  have  the 
desired  effect  when  used,  as  the  thongs  are  wrapped  with  a  ridge  of 
grass  which  must  go  below  the  skin  at  each  stroke. 

The  implements  for  the  manufacture  of  tapioca  are  also  of  interest. 
Tapioca  is  made  from  the  roots  of  the  mandioca  plant,  which  forms 
the  native  staple  diet.  Down  there  it  is  called  cavassa,  and  from  the 
cavassa  root  bread,  wine  and  dessert  are  extracted.  The  roots  are  first 
grated,  then  pressed,  and  finally  boiled  into  the  tapioca  of  American 
and  European  commerce.  In  its  first  state  it  is  cavassa,  from  which 
bread  is  made,  and  from  the  juice  of  which  a  liquor  called  ucupi  is  made. 
All  the  difficult  stages  of  its  manufacture  are  shown  by  the  implements 
brought  back  by  the  expedition,  and  the  exhibit  installed  in  the  An- 
thropological Building  is  well  worth  more  than  a  casual  visit. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 
Forestry  Building  and  Wooded  Island. 

AMONG     the     many    innovations    introduced     in     exposition 
methods  by  the  World's  Fair,  the  idea  of  presenting  forestry 
exhibits  in  an  individual  building,  and  of  making  that  subject 
a  separate  class,  stands  without  a  parallel.    At  previous  inter- 
national expositions  forestry  exhibits  have  consisted  largely  of  specimens 
of  curious  woods,  of  little  interest  except  to  those  interested  in  the 
science.     Even  these  exhibits  have  been  engulfed  in  the  infinities  of 
agricultural  departments. 

One  of  the  greatest  difficulties  encountered  in  collecting  American 
forestry  exhibits  was  the  absence  of  historic  data  in  regard  to  the  ex- 
tent, variety  and  value  of  native  forests.  The  department  laid  particular 
stress  in  appealing  to  the  different  States  and  Territories  upon  this 
feature,  and  endeavored  to  collect  as  far  as  possible  every  scrap  of 
information  that  will  add  to  the  historic  and  comparative  interest  of  the 
display.  As  a  result  the  exhibit  is  believed  to  be  the  turning  point  in 
American  constructive  forestry. 

In  Germany  the  science  of  preserving  forests  or  constructing  forestry 
is  a  great  factor  in  educational  institutions.  It  is  regarded  as  a  pro- 
fession, and  every  year  thousands  of  graduates  are  turned  out  who 
afterward  engage  in  that  branch  of  agriculture  for  a  livelihood.  Prob- 
ably the  first  lessons  in  this  science  taught  in  America  began  with  the 
establishment  of  "  Arbor  Day."  Many  of  the  forests  now  growing  in 
the  prairie  States  are  the  results  of  its  observance. 

Tree  Trunks  from  every  State  and  Territory. 

In  the  southeastern  portion  of  the  grounds,  to  the  south  of  the  old 
Convent  of  La  Rabida,  far  from  the  buildings  of  the  other  departments, 
stands  the  Forestry  Building.  It  is  composed  of  rough  woods,  the 
dressed  counterparts  of  which  may  be  seen  inside.  The  colonnade  of 
the  broad  verandah,  consisting  of  columns  of  tree  trunks  from  every 
State  and  Territory,  as  well  as  Canada,  is  in  itself  one  of  the  most  in- 
teresting parts  of  the  exhibit.  Tree  trunks  are  fitted  together  to  form 
each  column,  and  every  wood  possessing  a  commercial  use  is  found  in 
the  architecture  of  the  structure.  Each  section  of  wood  is  labeled  with 

603 


604  FORESTRY  BUILDING  AND  WOODED  ISLAND. 

its  name  and  the  State  or  country  from  which  it  comes.  Neither  stone, 
iron,  plaster,  nor  other  material  enters  into  the  construction  of  this 
building. 

One  portion  of  the  American  section  in  the  forestry  building  is  illus- 
trated by  the  States  of  Nebraska  and  Dakota.  By  collective  exhibits 
these  States  show  the  progress  and  growth  of  forests  planted  in  prairie 
soil.  The  exhibit  is  exhaustive  and  of  particular  interest  to  those  con- 
templating moving  west,  or  interested  in  western  development  Nearly 
all  of  the  great  forests  of  Nebraska  are  artificial,  and  when  it  becomes 
generally  known  through  the  forestry  exhibit  of  that  State  that  forests 
can  easily  be  produced  in  prairie  soil,  one  great  difficulty  in  inducing 
settlers  to  establish  permanent  homes  will  "be  overcome. 

Variety  of  Native  Woods. 

A  very  comprehensive  idea  of  this  portion  of  the  forestry  exhibit  may 
be  obtained  from  Nebraska's  exhibit.  Some  of  the  logs  are  so  large 
as  to  almost  discredit  the  statement  that  they  are  the  results  of  cultiva- 
tion. California  has  some  magnificent  specimens  of  walnut,  redwood, 
satin-wood,  and  other  fancy  woods.  One  piece  of  redwood  is  six  feet 
in  diameter  and  nine  feet  long.  Illinois  has  over  100  trees.  One  speci- 
men of  cypress  measures  three  feet  across.  There  is  an  exhibit  of  the 
National  Agricultural  Department.  This  exhibit  consists  of  specimens 
of  uniform  size,  including  every  variety  of  American  timber.  There  is 
also  the  collection  from  Jamaica,  which  includes  131  varieties,  consisting 
chiefly  of  ornamental  woods. 

Inside  the  building  the  dimensions  are  500  by  200  feet.  This  space 
is  occupied  by  individual  exhibitors,  and  displays  from  many  States  and 
foreign  governments.  Few  other  buildings  of  the  Fair  can  show  the 
array  of  collective  States'  exhibits  seen  in  the  forestry  department. 
Wyoming,  Utah,  Indiana,  North  Carolina,  New  York,  Missouri,  West 
Virginia,  Michigan,  Washington,  Ohio,  North  Dakota,  Wisconsin,  Mon- 
tana, Minnesota,  Arizona,  Kentucky,  Virginia,  Louisiana,  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, all  have  taken  possession  of  the  space  assigned  them.  The 
foreign  nations  that  compete  with  America  are  Japan,  Honduras,  Peru, 
Spain  and  the  Philippine  Islands,  Ecuador,  United  States  of  Colombia, 
Brazil,  Mexico,  Australia,  Canada,  Russia,  Italy,  France,  India,  Siam  and 
the  Argentine  Republic. 

A  Logging  Camp. 

The  interior  contains  no  machinery.  It  is  essentially  a  "  still  "  dis- 
play. Outside  the  building  there  is  a  complete  logging  camp  with  all 
attachments,  and  there  are  also  several  saw-mills  in  conjunction  with  the 


606  FORESTRY   BUILDING  AND   WOODED   ISLAND. 

department.  Individual  exhibitors,  whose  displays  consist  of  woodpulp 
articles,  worked  timber,  veneers  of  hard  and  fancy  woods,  stair  rails 
parts  of  furniture,  and  other  manufactured  forestry  products  in  the  rough, 
are  permitted  on  the  floor.  All  sorts  of  logging  tools,  stump-pulling 
devices,  and  other  implements  used  in  gathering  the  lumber  harvest  are 
illustrated  by  maps,  photographs,  models,  and  statistics. 

The  largest  home  exhibits  in  the  building  are  those  of  New  York, 
North  Carolina,  Michigan  and  Wisconsin,  while  West  Virginia's  pavilion 
contains  a  full  exhibit  of  the  Allegheny  forest  woods. 

More  time  and  money  have  been  spent  upon  the  Wisconsin  pavilion 
than  any  other  in  the  building,  although  the  structure  erected  by  the 
lumbermen  of  Michigan  is  not  far  behind  it.  Wisconsin  was  early  in 
the  field,  apparently  with  the  idea  of  distancing  all  her  competitors. 
Thirty- two  pieces  of  wood  compose  Wisconsin's  pavilion,  which  are 
formed  into  twenty  hexagonal  columns,  a  roof  and  side-pieces,  whereon 
are  quaint  and  curious  carvings.  Six  varieties  of  wood  enter  into  the 
composition  of  each  column,  the  work  of  veneering  being  particularly 
well  done.  Birch  bark  takes  the  place  of  the  unlovely  shingle,  while 
the  flooring  consists  of  alternate  planks  of  cherry  and  birch,  trimmed 
with  black  walnut. 

Southern  Lumber  Interests. 

At  the  eastern  or  lake  front  entrance  to  the  building  is  a  vestibule. 
This  vestibule  is  the  exhibit  of  the  Southern  Lumber  Manufacturers' 
Association.  It  is  arranged  to  show  the  commercial  values  of  Southern 
pines  of  different  species.  Each  panel  in  the  walls  is  highly  polished 
and  dressed  to  show  the  grain  and  finish  of  the  woods  displayed.  The 
exhibit  is  one  of  the  most  striking  in  the  building,  and  cost  more  than 
$10,000  to  erect. 

In  the  centre  of  the  building  is  a  trophy  in  the  form  of  a  pyramid. 
This  consists  of  longitudinal  sections  of  various  American  trees  varying 
from  five  feet  to  more  than  eleven  feet  in  diameter.  Kansas  contributed 
a  walnut  log  seven  feet  in  diameter,  which  weighs  30,000  pounds;  North 
Carolina  is  represented  in  the  pyramid  by  another  monster  walnut  log, 
and  Kentucky  furnished  the  white  oak  log  that  forms  the  base. 

Missouri  is  divided  against  itself  in  the  forestry  exhibit.  The  lumber 
sections  of  the  State  have  indulged  in  good-natured  rivalry  for  the 
purpose  of  making  the  State's  display  complete  and  illustrative  of 
Missouri's  wonderful  wealth  of  forests.  The  southwest  portion  of  the 
State  sent  many  splendid  specimens  of  giant  trees ;  the  southeastern 
portion  of  the  State  contributed  a  fine  collection  of  the  vines  and  shrubs 


FORESTRY   BUILDING  AND   WOODED   ISLAND.  607 

that  grow  in  that  region  in  great  profusion,  and  also  many  of  the 
counties  made  collective  exhibits  to  represent  them  in  the  Forestry 
Building. 

For  House  Decorations. 

One  of  the  largest  contributors  is  Mr.  Bedford,  of  Bloomfield.  Among 
the  specimens  sent  by  him  are  some  fine  pieces  of  curly-grained  box 
elder  which  are  very  ornamental.  Dawson  &  Hunter,  of  Henderson 
Mound,  sent  a  splendid  collection  of  gum  trees.  Butler  County  has 
made  a  fine  display  of  maples.  Curly  grained  pine,  which  has  lately 
come  of  use  in  house  decorations,  is  furnished  by  Ripley  County,  and 
white  and  black  walnut  in  large  and  valuable  logs  was  contributed  by 
the  woodmen  of  Stoddard  County. 

Missouri's  space  in  the  Forestry  Building  is  1,000  feet  in  extent.  Ii 
is  located  at  the  right  of  the  vestibule  entrance,  directly  back  of  the 
West  Virginia  exhibit.  All  of  the  tree  specimens  were  cut  of  a  size  and 
form  a  wall  around  the  space.  These  logs  are  four  feet  high,  and  many 
of  the  larger  ones  measure  three  feet  in  diameter.  The  outside  surfaces 
of  the  logs  were  cut  in  four  places,  to  show  the  grain  of  the  wood.  The 
radial,  tangential,  oblique  and  transverse  surfaces  are  polished  and  oiled 
to  bring  out  the  grain  and  show  it  to  greater  advantage.  In  this  wall 
140  different  specimens  of  trees  were  used. 

Inside  the  various  shrubs  and  bushes  grown  in  the  State  are  shown, 
and  also  the  limbs  and  end  sections  of  the  trees  forming  the  inclosure. 

Display  from   New  South  Wales. 

New  South  Wales  sent  a  splendid  showing  of  her  forest  products. 
The  pavilion  for  this  display  is  itself  a  portion  of  the  exhibit,  as  it  is 
constructed  of  huge  timbers  which  are  of  many  varieties  and  sizes. 
This  inclosure  is  formed  of  boards,  all  of  them  nine  feet  high,  and  many 
being  several  feet  broad.  Around  the  outside  they  are  polished  to  a 
distance  of  six  feet  from  the  floor.  In  the  wall  of  the  pavilion  is  myrall, 
rosewood,  red-beam,  gray  ironwood,  black  birch,  red  mahogany,  bush 
bloodwood,  black  butt,  wooly  butt,  hoop  pine,  and  many  other  woods 
never  seen  in  American  forests.  Inside  this  wall  of  solid  timber  are 
arranged  pyamids  of  monster  logs  dressed  down  to  show  the  fibre  of  the 
tree.  The  largest  log  shown  by  New  South  Wales  is  one  of  red  cedar 
that  is  six  feet  in  diameter  and  nine  feet  long.  It  is  handsomely 
polished,  and  was  sold  to  George  M.  Pullman  for  $500. 

Brazil's  pavilion  is  composed  of  trees  with  their  interlocking  branches 
forming  the  walls.  A  rustic  archway  forms  the  entrance  through  which 


608 


FORESTRY    BUILDING   AND   WOODED    ISLAND. 


the  display  of  dye  and  ornamental  woods    may  be  reached.     Three 
hundred  and  twenty-one  specimens  alone  come  from  the  forests  of  Brazil. 

What  Individuals  are  Doing. 

Morris  K.  Jessup  and  G.  W.  Vanderbilt  make  an  elaborate  display  of 
their  collections.  The  Jessup  collection  is  from  the  New  York  National 
Museum  of  Natural  History  and  includes  every  species  of  tree  grown  in 
the  United  States.  Mr.  Vanderbilt's  exhibit  is  from  his  North  Carolina 
estate,  where  he  has  extensively  experimented  in  the  science  of  forestry. 


BRAZIL'S  PAVILION  IN  THE  FORESTRY  BUILDING. 

His  head  forester  is  a  graduate  from  one  of  the  German  schools,  and  has 
prepared  the  exhibit  from  a  scientific  standpoint.  There  is  also  an 
exhibit  of  ship  timber,  such  as  spars  and  masts.  The  exhibit  of  timbers 
prepared  to  resist  decay  and  the  different  methods  used  in  the  prepara- 
tion are  thoroughly  explained  by  examples. 

Another  section  of  the  Forestry  Building  is  donated  to  gums,  resins, 
vegetable  wax  and  tallows,  seeds  and  fruits  for  ornamental  purposes  and 
various  other  forestry  products.  Medical  products  of  the  forest  are 
also  completely  covered.  Ohio  alone  shows  500  specimens  of  herbs, 
roots  and  barks.  For  the  farmer  are  shown  the  diseases  that  affect  trees 
and  the  means  for  preventing  epidemics.  This  branch  of  the  depart- 
ment includes  exhibits  of  injurious  insects. 

Forest  management  is  illustrated  by  maps  and  plans  and  calculations, 
and  the  principal  streams  that  run  through  the  great  forests  of  the  coun- 
try, are  shown  by  relief  maps. 


FORESTRY    BUILDING   AND   WOODED   ISLAND.  609 

•\ 

Unique  Designs. 

The  idea  of  the  pavilions  is  to  present  in  the  most  attractive  form  the 
woods  of  the  State  or  country  represented,  and  in  many  cases  the 
designs  are  unique.  Many  of  the  pavilions  consist  of  great  slabs  of 
wood  fastened  together  to  make  the  walls  of  the  structure,  while  the 
most  delicate  woods  are  used  for  ornamental  purposes.  At  first  sight 
the  interior  of  the  Forestry  Building  does  not  present  a  charming  pic- 
ture, the  general  coloring  being  of  a  sombre  type,  but  as  soon  as  the  beau- 
ties of  the  exhibits  become  apparent  and  the  taste  shown  in  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  various  woods  is  understood  the  visitor  appreciates  the 
labor  and  study  that  have  been  bestowed  upon  it. 

Taken  altogether  the  forestry  exhibit  is  a  most  unusual  one.  To  the 
general  public,  however,  the  exhibit  does  not  appeal,  and  for  that  rea- 
son does  not  receive  more  than  a  passing  glance,  but  for  the  lover  of 
nature  the  Forestry  Building  possesses  a  great  charm  and  attraction. 
For  entire  originality  it  has  no  equal  on  the  grounds,  and  is  quite  a 
departure  from  the  exhibits  usually  made  at  international  shows  of  this 

sort. 

Wonders  of  Wooded  Island. 

Now  that  we  are  among  the  trees  and  shrubs  we  will  pass  on  to  the 
famous  Wooded  Island,  one  of  the  most  attractive  points  at  Jackson 
Park.  The  island  is  about  fifteen  acres  in  extent  and  is  oblong  in  shape, 
narrowing  slightly  toward  the  northern  end.  An  old  sailor  would  prob- 
ably describe  it  as  being  whale-backed,  and  no  other  expression  suits  it 
as  well — a  ridge  running  almost  the  length  of  the  island,  rounding  off 
gently  to  the  water's  edge  on  either  side,  after  the  fashion  of  a  whale- 
backed  steamer. 

The  lagoon  which  separates  the  island  from  the  main  land  is  crossed 
by  handsome  bridges.  In  laying  out  the  different  beds  on  the  island  no 
conventional  designs  were  followed.  The  effect  is  that  of  a  maze 
rather  than  anything  else,  and  is  bewilderingly  beautiful.  These  ir- 
regular lines  were  followed,  partly  because  the  island  is  a  place  where 
any  idea  can  be  followed  out  without  fear  of  failures,  partly  because  of 
the  difference  in  the  size  of  exhibits  and  the  necessity  of  conforming  to 
them. 

The  south  end  of  the  island  is  planted  entirely  in  rhododendrons, 
azaleas  and  the  choicest  varieties  of  evergreens ;  Belgium,  Germany, 
France  and  England  contributing  to  this  display.  Farther  along  are 
beds  in  borders  of  columbines,  bell  flowers,  lobelias,  and  hollyhocks,  the 
whole  forming  a  rare  combination  of  rich  coloring.  Old-fashioned  peo- 
39 


610  FORESTRY    BUILDING   AND   WOODED    ISLAND. 

pie  have  their  hearts  gladdened  by  the  sight  of  beds  planted  in  all  the 
old  favorites,  bringing  back  memories  of  childhood  days,  when  a  bunch 
of  wall  flowers  was  more  to  be  desired  than  the  most  beautiful  of  garden 

queens. 

Favorites  from  Foreign  Countries. 

Germany  has  an  exhibit  of  its  own,  in  which  are  found  the  favorite 
flowers  of  that  country,  such  as  asters,  daisies,  roses,  and  evergreen 
shrubs.  They  are  so  arranged  that  the  beauty  of  each  plant  only  serves 
to  set  off  that  of  another. 

Japan  set  its  seal  upon  the  island — a  beautiful  temple  standing  in  the 
midst  of  a  garden  of  Japanese  design,  in  which  flourish  in  their  season 
bright-colored  peonies  against  an  evergreen  background,  and  later  the 
royal  chrysanthemum. 

But  the  crowning  glory  of  the  place  is  the  rose  garden,  where  50,000 
plants  of  over  2,000  varieties  stand  in  graceful  grouping.  There 
are  numerous  beds  with  rose  hedges,  but  the  lines  of  demarcation  in 
the  beds  are  made  with  honeysuckle  vines  run  on  wires  along  the 
ground.  Although  the  shape  of  the  beds  varies,  the  arrangement  in 
regard  to  coloring  is  the  same  in  all.  The  interior  is  filled  with  the 
darker,  richer  shades  of  crimson,  while  the  outer  borders  are  of  the  tea 
roses,  yellow  and  pink.  The  hedges  are  of  climbing  roses,  and  outside 
the  whole  are  borders  of  sweet  peas. 

The  only  wild  flower  on  the  island  is  the  little  wild  phlox,  which,  as 
a  matter  of  sentiment,  was  left  the  solitary  plant  to  the  manor  born  to 
be  found  in  the  whole  collection.  Great  oak  trees  cast  their  shadows 
everywhere,  while  graceful  willows  border  the  edge  of  the  lagoon. 

A  Bush  Hut. 

There  are  but  few  buildings  on  the  island— the  Japanese  temple,  two 
or  three  summer-houses  where  Hygeia  water  can  be  found,  and  a  busi- 
ness office.  On  a  smaller  island,  so  near  the  large  one  that  it  seems  a 
part  of  it,  stand  two  others,  the  New  South  Wales  bush  hut  and  a  log 
cabin.  The  hut  stands  half  hidden  in  a  clump  of  trees,  and  is  curious 
as  being  constructed  of  bark  entirely,  without  the  use  of  nails,  and  be- 
cause of  the  fireplace,  built  at  the  end  much  after  the  fashion  of  an 
Indian  tepee,  the  chimney  having  an  adjustable  top  for  the  better  con- 
trol of  the  smoke. 

Holland  and  Belgium  Jiave  many  hundred  rhododendrons.  These 
two  countries  make  these  flowers  specialties,  together  with  azaleas  and 
the  others  in  this  class.  Austria  has  a  display  of  lilies  occupying  a 
stretch,  England  adjoins  this,  with  costly  holly  trees  and 


FORESTRY    BUILDING   AND   WOODED    ISLAND. 


611 


churchyard  yews,  while  near  at  hand  sixty  sorts  of  green  peas  burden 
the  air  with  perfume,  and  Japanese  creeping  roses  make  the  ground  a 
carpet  of  delicate  colors. 

Old  folks  admire  a  section  devoted  entirely  to  their  grandfathers' 
flowers.  There  are  larkspurs  and  sweet  rockets  and  columbines  and 
Canterbury  bells  and  all  the  old-fashioned  things  that  ever  grew.  Just 
beyond  this  is  a  spot  where  the  freaks  of  nature  are  shown.  There  are 
lilacs  with  yellow  leaves,  box  elders  with  chrome  foliage  and  willows 


VENETIAN   GONDOLAS   AT  JACKSON   PARK. 

whose  boughs  have  strange  purple  shades.  Here  are  all  the  striking 
freaks  which  cultivation  has  been  able  to  make  in  the  garb  of  trees. 
The  edge  of  the  island  was  planted  thickly  with  water  plants,  which  try 
to  grow  under  the  tread  of  the  pelicans  with  valise  jaws,  the  graceful 
swans  and  the  other  monarchs  of  the  isle.  Song  birds  took  possession 
of  the  wildernesses  of  bushes.  The  gulls  flock  in  droves  from  the  lake 
and  quarrel  with  the  ducks  for  the  sunny  spots. 

The  Hunters'  Cabin. 

A  real  object  of  interest  on  Wooded  Island  is  the  Hunters'  Cabin.    It 
is  the  exhibit  of  the  Boone  and  Crockett  Club,  which  is  composed  of 


612 


FORESTRY   BUILDING   AND   WOODED   ISLAND. 


the  best-known  men  in  the  United  States.  In  1890,  Theodore  Roose- 
velt, of  New  York,  the  president  of  the  club,  gave  a  dinner  to  some  of 
his  friends  at  his  residence.  There  were  present  whole-souled  men, 
most  of  whom  are  possessed  of  the  true  sportman's  instinct.  The  result 
of  the  party  was  the  formation  of  the  Boone  and  Crockett  Club.  It  has, 


HUNTERS     CABIN   ON   WOODED    ISLAND. 

as  its  reason  of  being,  the  preservation  of  the  large  game  of  the  United 
States,  and  especially  in  Yellowstone  park. 

The  interior  of  the  cabin  is  a  reproduction  of  what  may  be  found  in 
the  West  any  day.  In  the  end  is  an  open  fireplace.  Over  the  rudely 
plastered  fabric  that  serves  as  a  mantel  is  the  skull  of  a  grizzly  bear. 
There  are  a  few  pipes,  snowshoes,  and  other  things  of  a  similar  rude 
character.  Elsewhere  in  the  room  is  a  pair  of  skies,  or  snowskates.  On 
the  floor  are  skins  of  elk,  white-tailed  deer,  etc.  On  a  rude  table  is  a 
common  gray  blanket,  a  pair  of  fine  field-glasses,  and  some  weapons  of 
long  and  short  varieties.  There  are  also  lassos,  pack  and  riding 
saddles,  etc.  Everything  is  of  the  plainest  style.  Outside  the  door  is 


FORESTRY    BUILDING   AND    WOODED    ISLAND.  613 

a  "  ship  of  the  plains."  A  pair  of  antlers  is  over  the  doorway.  There 
is  a  great  deal  to  be  seen  in  the  rude  cabin,  if  it  is  seen  beneath  the  skin, 
instead  of  superficially. 

One  of  the  best  hunters  in  the  United  States  is  in  charge  of  the  log 
cabin.  It  is  Elvvood  Hofer,  a  young  man  of  education,  of  lineage,  for 
he  comes  from  the  family  that  gave  Andreas  Hofer  to  help  make  Swiss 

history. 

A  Curious  Piece  of  Sculpture. 

Visitors  to  the  World's  Fair  find  among  the  trees  on  the  Wooded 
Island,  a  curious  piece  of  sculpture  which  at  once  claims  attention,  by 
reason  of  the  unique  and  striking  quality  of  the  design  arid  the  freedom 
with  which  a  daring  conception  has  been  carried  out 

A  strange  creature — part  woman  and  part  beast-  -lies  upon  a  rock  in 
full  enjoyment  of  the  sun's  stealthy  rays.  Upon  her  shoulder,  lightly 
touching  her  cheek  with  his  chubby  fingers,  leans  a  winged  messenger 
of  love.  He  whispers  a  message  into  her  ear.  It  would  seem  to  be  an 
old  story  to  the  woman,  but  she^  still  receives  it  with  a  smile  half-- 
incredulous and  altogether  lustful.  There  is  a  mystery  about  that  smile 
which  deepens  the  longer  the  figure  is  studied. 

Theodore  Baur,  the  creator  of  the  group,  calls  the  woman  with  the 
Ethiopian  features  and  leonine  body  a  sphinx.  He  has  endeavored  to 
preserve  the  mystery  and  strength  which  are  the  attributes  of  the 
sphinx  of  the  Egyptian,  while  at  the  same  time  striving  to  give  the  figure 
life  and  reality.  One  can  almost  believe,  in  looking  at  Mr.  Baur's 
sphinx,  that  the  cruel,  lustful  creature  he  portrays  might  have  an  actual 
existence,  if  not  in  this  age,  at  least  in  some  other 

Tended   Royal  Flowers. 

The  designer  and  gardener  of  Wooded  Island  is  Melchior  Lutschg. 
He  is  not  the  man  he  looks.  His  clothes  are  not  according  to  rule,  nor 
is  his  face  classic,  but  beneath  the  roughness  lies  "  a  heart  as  big  as  an 
ox,"  and  beneath  his  hat  beats  a  brain  as  delicate  as  the  tint  of  a  purple 
pansy,  and  as  tasteful  as  the  robe  of  a  valley  lily.  This  same  Lutschg, 
in  bare  shirt  and  corduroy,  is  the  man  whose  Aladdin  wand  has  made 
Wooded  Island  li'ke  a  fairy  land.  His  whole  life  is  wrapped  in  the 
bursting  buds  of  his  plants,  and  like  all  those  of  his  craft  his  ambition, 
love  and  life  are  bounded  by  the  opening  petals  which  he  fosters  from 
seed  to  bloom. 

Emperor  Napoleon  III.  and  the  plunging  Prince  Jerome  knew  this 
same  Lutschg,  knew  him  as  the  master  hand  of  the  Swiss  villa,  whose 
castle  walls  shadowed  Lake  Geneva,  or  as  the  landscape  maker  who 


614  FORESTRY    BUILDING   AND    WOODED    ISLAND. 

reared  the  flowering  glories  of  the  Tuileries.  The  empress  also  knew 
this  plain  genius,  the  queenly  matron  whose  heart  was  with  her  folk, 
and  who  loved  Lutschg  because  he  was  tender  and  his  disposition 
shone  as  brightly  as  the  reflections  from  his  blossoms.  This  was  years 
ago,  before  Paris  was  crushed  under  the  tread  of  invading  Germans,  and 
when  the  now  aging  man  was  in  his  youth,  when  he  danced  all  night 
at  a  country  feast  and  worked  all  day  among  the  flowers  for  her 
majesty's  delight. 

Survived  the  Grandees. 

Then  it  was  that  Plon  Plon  stretched  his  legs  at  the  edge  of  the  plat 
and  quizzed  Lutschg  why  a  violet's  leaf  was  blue  or  an  orange  blossom 
white,  and  smiled  at  the  philosophy  of  the  digging  gardener.  But 
fortune's  wheel  is  uncertain,  and,  with  his  old  grandees  under  the  sod, 
this  same  Lutschg,  with  his  first  name  Melchior,  because  he  is  Swiss,  is 
now  the  great  hand  which  has  fashioned  the  island  until  no  royal  garden 
was  ever  half  so  rich. 

A  great  many  people  talk  to  Lutschg,  but  they  do  not  know  that  he 
has  rubbed  against  royalty ;  he  does  not  look  it.  Neither  does  his  royal 
mind  make  it  apparent  His  work  is  his  whole  business,  and  the  suc- 
cessful unfolding  of  a  rare  pansy  is  of  as  much  importance  to  him  as  the 
settlement  of  a  financial  crisis.  He  would  not  be  anything  else  save  a 
blossomer  of  deserts.  Could  he  begin  life  again  he  would  continue  to 
make  Saharas  as  flower  pots.  Flowers  make  men  better  is  his  own 
philosophy,  and  had  he  a  thousand  sons  by  a  thousand  wives  every  one 
should  do  as  their  father  has. 

This  is  what  he  declares,  as  he  tells  the  tale  of  his  eventful  life  since 
he  first  saw  light  in  Claris,  nestling  high  on  the  side  of  the  Alps.  His 
father  did  not  live  to  see  the  success  of  his  son,  and  when  three  years 
old  the  cantankerous  Lutschg  found  himself  an  orphan  in  an  uncle's 
tutelage  He  was  schooled  for  too  few  years,  and  at  eighteen  paid  a  man 
200  francs  for  the  privilege  of  working  for  him  for  three  years  for 
nothing.  This  was  Swiss  apprenticeship. 

In  the  Napoleons'    Service.    . 

Asa  young  man  he  drifted  to  Lyons,  across  the  border,  then  into 
Italy  and  back  again  to  his  Alpine  home.  French  and  Italian  art  had 
added  to  the  romantic  tastes  inherited  from  the  crags  and  ravines  of  his 
native  land,  and  his  first  great  work  was  as  gardener  for  a  Spanish  duke 
whose  chateau  was  near  Chillon.  Prince  Jerome's  joined  this  estate( 
and  thus  Lutschg  came  to  know  the  Napoleons.  Jerome  liked  the 


FORESTRY   BUILDING   AND  WOODED   ISLAND.  615 

modest  man,  and  in  his  gardens  he  was  installed.  The  father  at  Paris 
heard  the  son's  praises,  and  presently  he  was  designing  sketches  for  the 
emperor.  That  war  upset  everything,  and  before  the  artilleries  began 
their  belching  the  Swiss  slipped  back  to  his  own  land.  When  the  car- 
nage was  over  he  served  many  a  Parisian  patrician,  planning  the  beauties 
of  the  ViHaneuve  St.  Georges,  where  lived  the  money  king  Hattinger. 
There  were  many  other  European  adventures  until  he  came  to  the  great 
western  world.  At  Philadelphia  he  made  the  Drexel  gardens  and  the 
Kimball  park  on  Edge  Hill.  He  next  came  to  the  bogs  and  dunes  of 
the  Exposition  grounds,  and  Wooded  Island  is  his  province. 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 
Children's    Building. 

WEDGED  in  between  the  Woman's  Building  and  the  Horti- 
cultural Building,  as  if  to  teach  by  an  object  lesson  that 
children  are  the  buds  of  the  heart,  and  the  only  flowerets 
in  the  universe  more  attractive  to  women  than  the  flowers 
of  the  garden,  stands  the  Children's  Building  of  the  Exposition.     It  is 
an  Exposition  building,  however,  only  in  the  sense  that  it  is  on  the 
Exposition  grounds.     The  direbtory  did  not  appropriate  a  cent  towards 
it.     It  was  built  under  the  auspices  of  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers  and 
with  money  which  they  collected  all  over  the  United  States,  there  being 
only   eight   or   ten   States    and   Territories    from   which    nothing   was 
received.     This  accounts  for  its  costing   only  $30,000  and   being   one 
of  the  plainest  buildings  in  Jackson  Park,  for  the  enterprise  was  not 
fully  appreciated  everywhere,  and  the  money  was  collected  with  some 
difficulty. 

The  origin  of  this  project  is  attributed  to  several  people,  but  found 
immediate  favor  with  the  lady  managers  and  with  ladies  generally,  at 
least  in  Chicago.  From  first  to  last  it  was  conceived  as  an  educational 
exhibit,  and  the  ladies  in  charge  were  excited  to  the  point  of  indignation 
over  some  newspaper  articles  that  appeared  representing  it  as  simply  a 
day-nursery  or  a  baby-farm.  That  an  infinitesimal  part  of  the  building 
is  devoted  to  a  sort  of  day-nursery  is  almost  regretted,  in  consequence  of 
the  deplorable  and  injurious  report  to  which  it  gave  rise  that  the 
building  was  nothing  else. 

Gymnasium   for   Little   People. 

The  real  nature  of  this  educational  exhibit  is  best  explained  together 
with  the  structure  of  the  building  itself.  The  Children's  Buildingi 
designed  by  Alexander  Sardier  of  the  construction  department,  while  in 
good  taste,  is  so  destitute  of  architectural  pretensions  that  its  style  may 
be  dismissed  as  indeterminable.  It  covers  an  area  of  150  by  90  feet,  is 
two  stories  high,  and  is  built  of  "  staff." 

The  building  has  an  interior  court  90  by  50  feet  in  area,  and  extending 
from  the  first  floor  to  the  roof.  In  the  center  of  the  court  a  space 
70  by  40  feet  in  area  is  railed  off,  to  be  used  as  a  school  of  athletics. 
616 


CHILDREN'S  J3UILDING. 


617 


The  object  is  to  exhibit  the  methods  of  teaching  children  the  art  of 
physical  culture,  and  inspiring  them  with  something  of  an  ambition  to 
attain  the  physical  prowess  that  was  the  pride  of  the  Greeks  and 
Romans.  The  management  of  this  school  was  committed  entirely  to 
the  North  American  Turner  Bund,  which  provides  both  teachers  and 
pupils  for  this  exhibit,  the  pupils  being,  as  a  general  thing,  boys  about 
the  age  of  twelve.  Every  gymnastic  appliance  necessary  for  such 
instruction  is  furnished. 


CHILDREN'S  BUILDING  AT  THE  WORLD'S  FAIR. 

The  Children's  Building  was  opened  with  public  ceremonies  June  ist. 
After  music  came  the  dedicatory  speech  by  Mrs.  George  L.  Dunlap, 
who  had  charge  of  the  work.  It  was  not  a  speech  in  the  accepted  sense 
of  the  term.  It  was  a  plain  motherly  talk.  Stage  by  stage  she  detailed 
the  work  of  erecting  the  building  and  furnishing  it,  and  then  told  the 
object.  It  was  for  the  little  folks.  It  was  theirs  absolutely,  and  in  it 
they  might  reign  supreme,  from  the  tiniest  cradle  on  the  first  floor  to 
the  playground  on  the  roof.  Mrs.  Palmer,  as  President  of  the  Woman's 
Board,  under  whose  direction  the  children's  headquarters  was  erected, 
received  the  building.  The  occasion  affected  her,  too.  She  replied  in 
a  simple  way  that  pleased  her  listeners,  and  with  more  music  that  part 
of  the  programme  was  ended. 

No  Little  Boys  Present. 
But  that  was  not  all.     Nobody  knew  how  it  happened,  but  little  girls 


filS  CHILDREN'S    BUILDING. 

only  were  present  among  the  children.  There  was  not  a  boy  in  the 
lot.  It  is  not  known  that  any  discrimination  was  made  against  the  little 
chaps  who  will  vote  some  day  in  favor  of  those  who  may  want  to  vote 
some  day,  but  the  girls  had  it  all  to  themselves  at  the  opening.  And 
they  acquitted  themselves  well.  There  were  over  a  hundred  of  them, 
all  pretty,  with  bright  eyes  and  red  cheeks,  and  as  happy  as  little  Golden 
Hair  was  when  she  met  the  fairy.  Half  of  them  belonged  to  the  Vor- 
warts  Turngemeinde,and  were  in  charge  of  Prof.  Henry  Hart ung,  director 
of  physical  culture.  They  were  dressed  in  pretty  blue  flannel  suits 
trimmed  with  white  braid,  and  could  hardly  wait  until  the  older  people 
got  through  talking  to  begin  their  part  of  the  programme.  It  came  at 
last. 

In  the  centre  of  this  building  is  the  gymnasium,  with  rows  of  dumb 
bells,  swinging  rings,  long  poles  to  climb  and  vaulting-horses.  The 
way  those  children  performed  was  marvelous,  and  many  a  man  who 
watched  envied  them.  In  perfect  time  they  drilled,  used  the  dumb- 
bells and  went  through  all  the  health-giving  exercises,  until  100  soft 
cheeks  were  flushed  with  excitement  and  exertion.  They  vaulted  and 
climbed  swinging-poles  with  exquisite  grace.  Everybody  present 
longed  to  be  a  child  again,  and  old  faces  which  had  learned  to  frown 
from  the  care  s  of  life  lost  their  hardness  and  smiled  on  the  little  people 

Learning  to  do  Housework. 

On  the  second  floor  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  building  is  a  room 
known  as  the  kitchen  garden.  Although  the  name  suggests  growing 
potatoes,  beets,  onions  and  the  like,  there  is  nothing  of  the  kind  there. 
It  is  a  room  devoted  to  teaching  little  girls  in  a  practical  way  how  to  make 
good  housewives  when  they  grow  up.  In  the  center  of  the  room  are 
low  tables,  with  tiny  beds  on  them  all  made  up.  Around  the  room  are 
little  brooms  and  little  chairs,  dishes  of  all  kinds,  wash-tubs  and  boards 
and  scrubbing  brushes  in  racks.  In  this  room  were  forty  girls.  Each 
wore  a  spotless  white  pinafore,  and  all  were  happy.  When  they  sat  down 
in  the  chairs  they  did  not  flop  back  recklessly,  but  used  one  hand  to 
pull  aside  the  little  skirts  and  sat  down  as  though  they  all  wore  court 
trains.  They  were  all  trained  kindergarten  girls. 

After  the  performance  in  the  gymnasium  their  turn  came,  and  what 
they  did  would  convert  a  Dahomey  savage  to  the  kindergarten  system  if 
he  could  see  it.  The  little  beds  were  all  mussed  up,  and,  two  little  girls 
to  a  bed,  they  started  in  to  make  them  up.  First  the  mattresses  were 
turned  and  punched  into  a  degree  of  softness.  The  sheets  were  spread 
with  the  hem  turned  the  right  way,  the  blanket  put  on,  spread,  and  then 


CHILDREN  S   BUILDING. 


619 


came  the  tucking-in  process.  No  danger  of  that  tucking-iii  coming  out. 
It  was  no  boarding  house  tuck,  but  a  regular  home-made  one.  When 
the  pillow-slips  were  put  on  and  the  shams  put  up  half  the  people  who 
watched  the  process  wished  they  were  small  enough  to  get  into  the  beds 
and  take  a  sleep. 

While  the  beds  were  being  made  other  little  girls  were  sweeping  the 
room.  They  did  not  sweep  around  the  middle,  but  went  into  the  corners 
in  a  way  which,  if  it  is  carried  into  later  life,  will  cause  some  man  to  call 


IN   THE   BABIES     ROOM. 

them  blessed  Others  got  down  on  their  knees  and  scrubbed  and  some 
went  to  the  wash-tubs,  and,  with  sleeves  rolled  up  over  pretty  little  arms, 
made  dirty  doll  clothes  look  as  white  as  snow. 

Ideas  for  Older  Heads. 

The  Children's  Building  serves  a  dual  purpose.  It  is  educational  and 
practical,  and  devoted  to  both  during  the  Exposition.  The  educational 
feature  is  a  branch  which  shows  mothers  how  to  train  the  little  ones 
entrusted  to  their  charge.  Simple  ways  of  teaching  the  infant  mind  by 
figure  and  illustration  are  shown,  and  attendants  are  always  on  hand  to 
explain  the  system.  The  practical  part,  aside  from  the  gymnasium, 
includes  a  room  where  children  do  wood  carving,  another  where  deaf 
and  dumb  boys  and  girls  go  and  find  companions,  and,  best  of  all,  the 
nursery. 

"  I  would  like  to  be  a  baby  once  more  just  to  get  a  chance  to  get  into 
one  of  those  cradles,"  exclaimed  a  woman,  and  everybody  else  echoed 


620  CHILDREN'S    BUILDING. 

her  wish.  Two  rooms  on  the  first  floor  are  devoted  to  the  nursery. 
They  are  the  brightest  rooms  in  the  building,  and  are  presided  over  by 
trained  nurse  girls  dressed  in  striped  dresses  and  wearing  white  caps. 
There  are  rows  of  cradles  for  the  very  little  people,  rows  of  beds  for 
those  a  little  older,  toys  of  all  kinds,  spring  chairs  hung  from  the  ceiling, 
where  babies  can  jump  up  and  down  and  "  go,"  and  in  the  center  is  a 
place  they  call  the  pond.  It  is  an  enclosure  fenced  off  as  a  play-ground 
for  the  little  people  who  can  only  creep.  Anyone  who  has  a  little  tot 
and  cannot  leave  it  alone  and  cannot  go  to  the  Fair  without  it  need  not 
carry  it  around.  The  nurse  girls  are  there  to  take  charge  of  them,  and 
they  will  receive  every  attention.  Boys  are  not  barred  from  the  nurser*. 
On  top  of  the  building  is  a  play-ground. 

All  Sorts  of  Curious  Toys. 

The  women  who  have  the  enterprise  in  charge  worked  diligently  to 
make  it  a  spot  that  will  live  as  a  beautiful  page  in  the  memory  of  every 
little  one  who  has  the  advantage  of  a  day  in  its  walls.  It  is  above  all 
things  the  home  of  toys.  No  fabled  workshop  of  Santa  Claus,  no 
dreamland  grotto  of  magicians  was  ever  so  rich  with  playthings  as  is 
this  home  of  the  children. 

In  the  first  place  the  women  applied  to  the  various  countries  that  were 
sending  exhibits  to  the  Fair,  asking  them  to  send  especially  large  con- 
signments of  toys.  They  wanted  to  make  an  exhibit  there  of  the 
things  that  would  interest  the  little  ones  and  the  larger  ones  who  had 
them  in  charge.  But,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  very  building  in  which 
the  toys  were  to  be  housed  was  finally  decided  upon  at  a  day  so  late, 
not  all  the  countries  sent  as  many  toys  as  they  would  had  they  known 
of  the  need.  Many  national  commissioners  succeeded  in  getting  sup- 
plementary consignments  even  after  the  big  shipments  had  been  made. 
Many  more  were  successful  in  getting  manufacturers  to  send  from  their 
workshops  across  the  seas  samples  of  the  playthings  that  go  to  make  up 
the  sum  of  children's  happiness  in  other  lands,  and  these  articles  swell 
the  exhibit  at  the  Children's  Building. 

More  Than  a  Playhouse. 

Of  course,  the  place  is  more  than  a  playhouse.  It  is  designed  to 
explain  everything  that,  in  the  light  of  this  later  century,  will  aid  in  the 
rearing  and  education  of  children.  Whatever  toys  can  do  to  forward 
this  work  is  the  duty  of  toys — and  it  is  a  large  portion  of  the  work. 
Little  ones  are  received  by  the  women  in  charge  of  the  building  and 
cared  for  during  such  hours  as  their  parents  may  desire,  for  which 
entertainment  a  small  charge  is  made. 


CHILDREN'S    BUILDING.  .  621 

If  one  doubts  the  wisdom  of  this  arrangement  one  has  only  to  look  in 
the  faces  of  the  children  out  shopping  with  their  mothers  on  a  busy  day 
and  note  the  deathly  weariness  of  babes  who  have  nothing  in  common 
with  the  interests  of  their  mothers.  Children  of  all  degrees  are  alike  in 
this  matter.  Some  things  will  interest,  will  enchant  them.  But  they  do 
not  care  a  rap  for  the  splendors  of  the  "  great  golden  gateway"  of 'the 
transportation,  the  gilded  dome  of  the  administration,  or  the  classic 
splendors  of  the  peristyle.  They  demand  things  within  the  range  of 
their  own  vision.  And  they  are  safe  in  the  charge  of  the  women  at 
the  Children's  Building.  Infants  in  arms,  as  well  as  the  little  lads  and 
lassies  of  eight  years,  receive  the  attention  they  need.  They  are  kept} 
fed,  clothed,  entertained  and  amused,  besides  which  they  are,  in  so  far  as 
the  circumstances  of  the  case  permit,  instructed. 

The  Children's  Paradise. 

On  the  roof  of  the  building  which  is  their  especial  kingdom  is  a  great 
garden,  in  which  they  are  reigning  kings  and  queens.  They  are  per- 
mitted to  play  with  the  toys  that  may  be  considered  safe  for  them  and 
that  they  cannot  throw  over  the  battlement  upon  the  heads  of  larger 
and  less  happy  passers-by.  They  have  the  shade  of  awnings,  the  benefit 
of  cool  breezes,  the  cheer  of  music  and  the  pleasure  that  games  give 
them.  In  this  and  all  other  departments  the  toys  sent  them  by  foreign 
nations  and  American  manufacturers  are  proofs  of  genuine  philanthropy. 
By  far  the  greater  number  of  toys  from  any  one  nation  are  French. 
They  more  than  any  other  are  of  the  ingenious  kind — the  mechanical 
devices  that  prove  ingenuity  in  the  maker  and  skill  in  the  operator. 
Many  of  them  are  of  the  kind  that  may  be  enjoyed  without  handling  by 
the  children. 

Better  than   Yankee   Notions. 

Up  to  this  year  the  fancy  may  have  been  grounded  into  the  thought 
of  Americans  that  the  Yankee  was  the  maker  of  all  implements  that 
carried  the  seal  of  ingenuity  with  them.  But  the  Yankee  has  been  for 
years  left  far  in  the  shade  by  the  French  maker  of  toys.  The  v/orkmen 
of  that  gay  nation  have  more  curious  contrivances  that  charm  the  eye 
and  rivet  the  attention  of  the  child  than  an  American  workman  would 
dream  of  in  a  year.  There  are  toy  men  who  perform  almost  human 
feats  of  skill  and  precision.  There  are  toy  animals  from  the  benches  of 
mechanics  that  seem  to  have  been  really  invested  with  the  intelligence 
of  trained  domestic  beasts.  There  are  toys  that  perform  miracles  of 
color  and  motion,  and  children  are  entranced  with  the  sight  of  them. 

Not  only  France,  but  farther  countries  have  contributed  to  the  whole 


622 


CHILDREN'S    BUILDING. 


that  goes  to  make  up  the  children's  exhibit.  Germany  comes  in  as  a 
good  second,  and  even  Russia  turns  aside  for  a  moment  from  the  ser- 
ious side  of  life  to  give  some  attention  to  the  amusement  of  children. 
There  are  playthings  from  Turkey  that  our  own  children  look  upon  for 


A    CORNER    OF    THE    NURSERY. 

the  first  time  as  a  revelation  of  a  new  link  connecting  them  with  the 
children  of  that  far  land.  There  are  toys  from  China  and  toys  from 
Japan,  both  made  by  workmen  who  think  directly  for  the  happiness  of 
their  little  ones,  even  if  their  hands  do  go  backward  in  the  handling  of 
the  saw  and  the  plane. 

Many  Toys    Are  New. 

Sweden  and  Norway  have  not  permitted  themselves  to  be   forgotten, 
and  the  trinkets  that  amuse  the  children  of  Stockholm  and  Christianja. 


CHILDREN'S   BUILDING.  623 

are  found  side  by  side  with  the  toys  that  fill  the  eye  of  the  English  ur- 
chin. Many  of  these  things  have  become  familiar  to  our  youth  in  the 
shop  windows  of  the  stores  on  Christmas,  and  thousands  of  them  have 
found  their  way  into  stockings  that  hang — not  in  the  chimney  corner 
any  more,  but  in  any  place  from  the  sitting-room  to  the  alcove  at  the 
end  of  the  bedroom. 

Still  there  are  tons  of  toys  on  exhibition  that  have  never  been  seen 
except  by  those  favored  little  ones  who  have  crossed  the  ocean  with  pa- 
rents who  could  go  to  Santa  Claus  even  if  he  dared  not  come  to  them. 
And  the  men  who  have  made  the  strongest  bid  for  the  favor  of  children 
are  the  men — no  matter  in  what  country  located — who  have  given  the 
largest  consignment  of  toys  for  use  in  the  Children's  Building.  Much 
the  larger  proportion  of  these  toys  have  come  from  abroad,  but  the 
American  manufacturers  and  dealers  proved  their  claim  to  strong  com- 
petition by  rivaling  the  exhibit  of  any  land  under  the  sun. 

Amusement  for  Youth. 

Perhaps  a  child  is  not  a  child  when  he  has  reached  the  age  of  four- 
teen. Of  course  a  girl  is  not  a  child  at  all  when  she  has  attained  that 
age ;  but  a  boy  sometimes  is  still  content  to  remain  small  enough  and  to 
retain  an  interest  in  things  juvenile  enough  to  entitle  him  to  the  appella- 
tion of  child,  For  all  of  these  there  is  something  better  than  the  walk 
over  the  ground  and  the  incessant  tramp  after  wonders  that  weary  the 
life  out  of  the  fathers  and  mothers.  There  are  lectures  for  them.  This 
statement  may  seem  frightfully  sedate.  But  the  little  ones  enjoy  the 
lectures  even  more  than  they  would  the  ever  engaging  game  of  ball. 
The  lectures  are  illustrated  by  stereopticon  views  of  subjects  that  prove 
entertaining  and  that  are  remembered.  And  the  talks  are  not  so  "  babi- 
fied  "  but  even  older  people  can  enjoy  them. 

The  whole  enterprise  is  in  no  sense  a  refuge  for  the  destitute  or  the 
homeless.  That  class  of  children,  unfortunately,  are  not  brought  even 
to  the  gates  of  the  Fair.  But  there  are  hundreds  of  mothers  who  must 
bring  at  least  one  child  to  the  city,  and  who  are  unable  to  leave  it  at  the 
hotel  or  boarding-house  while  she  goes  to  see  the  Exposition.  Such 
children  do  not  thank  any  mother  to  lead  or  carry  them  about  the 
interminable  grounds  of  the  Fair.  They  enjoy  some  brief  sight  at  the 
outer  wonders  of  the  place,  and  then  find  far  more  congenial  entertain- 
ment in  the  Children's  Building,  where  they  have  as  much  rest  as  they 
need,  are  cared  for  as  carefully  as  if  the  eye  of  mother  v/ere  constantly 
upon  them,  and  are  entertained  with  games  and  toys,  interested  and  in- 
structed in  things  within  their  comprehension,  and  where,  in  short,  they 


624  CHILDREN'S    BUILDING. 

spend  a  day  that  will  make  them  remember  the  Fair  pleasantly  to  the 
end  of  their  lives. 

Children   Taught  to  Cook. 

Mrs.  Rorer's  cooking  class  for  children  is  the  one  subject  of  interest 
to  visitors  to  the  model  kitchen,  every  one  being  anxious  to  see  the  lit- 
tle housekeepers  at  work. 

Mrs.  Palmer  granted  Mrs.  Rorer  the  privilege  of  having  practice  les- 
sons for  children  in  the  model  kitchen,  and  Mrs.  Rorer  is  correspond- 
ingly happy.  She  takes  twenty  little  girls,  dividing  them  into  two 
classes  of  ten  each,  and  teaches  them  housekeeping  in  the  most  practical 
manner.  The  lessons  are  from  3  to  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  will 
continue  during  the  six  months  of  the  Exposition,  at  the  end  of  which 
there  will  be  an  examination. 

Two  little  housekeepers  and  eight  cooks  are  the  working  force,  and 
Mrs.  Rorer  invites  every  one  to  come  and  see  just  how  much  children 
can  be  taught. 

Ramona   Indian  School. 

One  large  room  is  occupied  by  the  Ramona  Indian  School."  This 
school  is  named  after  the  novel  called  "  Ramona,"  written  by  Helen 
Hunt  Jackson,  and  dealing  with  the  same  matter.  It  resulted  in  the 
establishment  of  the  Ramona  Indian  School  at  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico, 
and  the  appointment  of  Miss  Jackson  as  principal.  She  brought  a  class 
of  her  Indian  girts  to  the  Exposition,  and  gives  a  daily  exhibit  of  the 
methods  and  results  of  her  teaching. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 
United  States   Naval   Exhibit. 

THE  naval  exhibit  of  the  United  States  government  at  the  World's 
Fair  is  nearly  all  contained  in  the  composite  battle-ship  Illi- 
nois, which  stands  in  Lake  Michigan  almost  in  front  of  the 
huge  building  devoted  to  manufactures.     Few  people  who  see 
the  formidable  guns  and  turret  of  the  Illinois,  which  seem  to  stand 
guard  over  the  Fair  grounds  and  protect  them  from  invasion  by  water, 
realize  until  they  come  very  close  to  her  that  she  is  not  a  floating 
ship  of  war.      This  brick   ship  was  the  idea  of  Commodore    R.  W. 
Meade. 

Her  Catling  and  Hotchkiss  guns,  of  which  she  has  a  battery,  seem  to 
stand  upon  decks  that  have  been  washed  with  the  spray  of  the  ocean. 
Steam  and  smoke  issue  from  her  funnel,  her  steam  whistle  blows  as  if  to 
warn  adjacent  craft  that  she  is  about  to  sheer  off  from  the  wharf,  and 
real  naval  officers  in  full  uniform  pace  her  quarter  deck.  In  spite  of  that 
fact  she  is  firmly  built  into  the  mud  of  the  lake  and  couldn't  be  moved 
with  a  derrick.  She  would  not  float  even  if  bricks  and  mortar  floated, 
for  she  has  no  bottom. 

"  These  Stoves  may  Cut    Adrift." 

So  realistic  is  the  deception  that  one  of  the  workmen  who  was  put- 
ting in  the  stoves  in  the  ship's  galley  and  who  was  busy  clamping  them 
down,  as  is  done  in  ships  to  prevent  them  from  cutting  loose  and  slid- 
ing around  the  deck  in  a  sea  way,  complained  that  the  fastenings  he  had 
made  were  not  firm  enough.  "  If  she  gets  outside  in  a  blow,"  he  said  to 
Naval  Architect  F.  W.  Grogan,  "  I'm  afraid  those  stoves  may  cut  adrift." 
He  thought  he  had  been  working  on  a  real  man-of-war. 

Lieutenant  Commander  Taussig,  U.  S.  N.,  is  in  charge  of  the  Illinois, 
and  his  commission  has  been  as  carefully  worded  as  if  he  were  to  take 
her  to  the  Mediterranean.  All  the  formalities  and  rules  of  naval  etiquette 
are  observed.  There  is  an  officer  of  the  deck  and  a  watch  to  call  out 
"  A  light  on  the  starboard  bow  ! "  The  time  is  calculated  by  bells,  and 
officers  cannot  leave  the  craft  without  permission.  About  twenty  of- 
ficers and  men  are  on  board  and  fifty  marines  from  the  navy  yards  for 
police  duty.  The  crew  were  taken  almost  entirely  from  the  revenue 
cutter  Michigan,  that  does  duty  on  the  lake. 

40  625 


626  UNITED   STATES   NAVAL   EXHIBIT. 

She  is  as  fine  a  battle-ship  to  the  eye  as  there  is  in  the  navy,  but  an 
angry  man  with  a  crowbar  could  do  her  a  lot  of  injury.  She  is  modelled 
after  the  Massachusetts,  Indiana  and  Oregon  and  is  of  13, 300  tons  meas- 
urement, but  unlike  those  vessels  she  cost  only  $80,000  to  build,  which, 
of  course,  is  exclusive  of  her  guns  and  the  exhibits  she  contains.  She  is 
348  feet  long  and  has  a  beam  or  breadth  of  69  feet  Her  beams  are  of 
steel  and  she  has  calked  deck  planks,  hatches,  winches,  cable  nippers 
and  such  attachments,  of  iron  in  some  cases  and  in  others  of  plaster. 
The  big  crane  which  hoists  the  enormous  black  anchors  (cement)  is 
partly  cast  iron  and  partly  lath  and  plaster. 

Throw  a  Shell  Six  Miles. 

All  the  appurtenances  of  the  forward  main  deck  have  a  realistic  look 
Under  the  wheelhouse  is  the  cooking  galley,  an  exhibit  by  a  New  York 
firm,  in  which  all  the  food  of  the  men  is  prepared.  Back  of  this,  and  oc- 
cupying places  a  little  forward  of  amidships  are  the  6^-inch  guns,  two 
on  each  side.  After  the  exhibition  is  over  these  weapons,  which  are  the 
real  thing,  will  be  placed  on  board  the  new  cruisers  now  building  in 
San  Francisco.  The  guns  use  fifty  pounds  of  powder  and  carry  a  hun- 
dred pound  shell  six  miles.  Those  versed  in  questions  of  artillery  cal- 
culate that  the  shell  should  weigh  twice  as  much  as  the  powder,  and 
that  each  inch  of  diameter  is  good  for  an  extra  mile.  Thus  a  Q-inch 
gun,  built  according  to  the  proper  scale  of  proportions,  will  send  a 
projectile  nine  miles,  and  the  1 3-inch  gun,  of  which  there  is  a  dummy 
on  the  Illinois,  should  shoot  thirteen  miles. 

On  the  carriages  of  the  6^-inch  guns  are  the  perforations  made  by 
the  shell  from  a  six  pound  Hotchkiss  rifle.  No  carriage  for  artillery  in 
the  navy  is  accepted  until  the  gunners  have  had  a  shot  at  it  to  test  it. 
If  the  shell  goes  clean  through  without  cracking  the  metal,  only  making 
a  hole,  the  gun  carriage  is  good  enough  for  Uncle  Sam.  The  guns  and 
shells  with  which  these  tests  are  made  are  also  shown. 

The  13-inch  gun,  of  which  a  dummy  is  shown  in  the  turret,  is  a 
beauty.  It  burns  550  pounds  of  powder,  and  it  would  send  a  shell 
weighing  1,100  pounds  thirteen  miles,  and  still  have  enough  impetus 
when  it  reached  there  to  bowl  over  almost  anything  that  stood  in  its 
way.  Exhibits  of  the  real  shells  are  to  be  found  in  the  ship.  In  the 
powder  magazine,  which  is  a  most  interesting  place,  are  the  ammunition 
cages,  made  of  copper  and  about  four  feet  high,  in  which  the  powder  is 
stored.  The  charges  are  hoisted  by  machinery,  placed  in  the  gun  and 
rammed  home,  the  process  being  shown  almost  completely.  The  arma- 
ment shows  a  full  naval  equipment. 


628  UNITED   STATES   NAVAL   EXHIBIT. 

Real  Officers  Live  There. 

An  officer's  ward  room  located  well  aft  in  which  real  officers  Ifre  is 
exhibited  to  astonish  people  from  inland  points.  This  is  shown  under 
certain  restrictions,  of  course,  the  sign  "  No  Admittance,"  being  put  up 
at  meal  times  and  at  bed  times.  There  is  a  fine  lavatory  and  bathroom 
for  the  officers  and  another  one  for  the  captain.  All  the  furniture  is 
real  and  it  will  be  used  some  day,  along  with  some  of  the  other  fittings, 
on  a  genuine  battle-ship. 

Upon  the  berth  deck  there  is  no  machinery  such  as  would  be  used  to 
propel  a  vessel  like  the  Illinois.  Only  a  comparatively  small  section  of 
coal  bunker  is  shown,  but  there  is  enough  to  demonstrate  the  watertight 
compartment  ideas  and  the  means  by  which  the  firemen  escape  from  the 
bunkers  in  case  of  an  influx  of  water  and  the  closing  of  the  compartments. 
A  space  which  in  a  real  ship  would  be  given  up  to  bunkers  is  occupied 
by  the  steam  engineering  exhibit,  showing  the  types  of  boilers  and  engines 
of  different  periods  in  model  form;  as  well  as  the  patterns  of  various 
kinds  of  propellers. 

Underneath  one  of  the  turrets  for  the  1 3-inch  guns  is  the  ordnance 
museum.  The  after  turret  has  not  been  carried  out  below  the  main 
deck.  In  the  museum  are  portraits  of  heroes  of  the  navy  and  relics  of 
a  nature  that  do  not  cause  sectional  discussion.  Armor  plates  that  have 
been  subjected  to  tests  and  the  projectiles  with  which  they  have  been 
pierced  are  in  the  museum. 

How  the  Towers  are  Moved. 

The  hydraulic  apparatus  by  which  the  towers  are  moved  so  that  the 
big  guns  may  be  brought  to  bear  upon  the  unlucky  victim  that  the  cap- 
tain is  after  is  explained.  Over  the  propeller  is  a  hole  for  a  torpedo 
tube.  In  this  part  of  the  ship  the  ward  room  and  captain's  room  are 
duplicated  so  that  they  can  be  inspected  when  the  real  living  quarters 
are  not  accessible.  In  the  duplicate  ward  room  folks  who  have  never 
before  been  on  a  ship  can  paw  over  the  articles  they  find  and  make  loud 
and  personal  remarks,  all  of  which  they  are  asked  to  refrain  from  doing 
in  the  living  quarters. 

From  the  Naval  Academy  at  Annapolis  there  are  samples  of  the 
class  and  engineering  work  of  the  cadets,  but  unfortunately  the  cadets 
themselves  are  not  represented. 

Upon  the  superstructure  deck  there  is  the  heavily  armored  conning 
tower.  In  time  of  war  the  wheelhouse,  which  is  of  wood,  would  very 
likely  be  converted  into  splinters  with  its  human  contents — if  they 


UNITED   STATES   NAVAL   EXHIBIT.  629 

stayed  there.  In  such  a  case  as  that  the  captain  perches  in  the  conning 
tower,  in  which  there  is  a  steering  gear.  From  this  place,  which  of 
course  is  a  target  for  all  the  cannon  balls  that  are  sailing  through  the 
atmosphere,  he  can  work  the  guns  and  communicate  with  every  part  of 
the  ship.  By  means  of  speaking  tubes  he  can  shout  at  all  his  subor- 
dinate officers  and  allude  to  their  weak  points  just  as  easily  as  if  he  had 
them  right  there  in  the  room. 

Gatlings  and  Search  Lights. 

Behind  the  tower  is  the  secondary  battery  of  6-pound  Hotchkiss 
guns.  In  the  military  tops  are  two  I -pound  guns  and  two  Gatlings. 
Two  search  lights  are  located,  one  forward  and  one  aft,  which  are  in 
use.  A  chart  house  completes  the  equipment  on  this  deck. 

Many  of  the  sailors  went  to  work  on  the  Illinois  with  sledge  ham- 
mers, forgetting  that  she  was  not  a  real  ship,  and  they  had  to  be  warned 
all  the  time  that  men  couldn't  kick  6-inch  steel  armor  plate  with  im- 
punity. There  are  four  side  ladders  to  the  Illinois,  a  swinging  boom 
topped  out  and  awnings  and  canopies  on  the  decks. 

The  more  movable  exhibits  include  samples  of  rifles,  cutlasses,  ac- 
coutrements and  stores.  On  the  beach  are  sections  of  armor  plate,  four- 
teen inches  thick,  from  the  Indiana,  and  a  piece  of  the  turret  of  the 
Monterey,  11%  inches  thick.  A  complete  torpedo  set,  including  the 
gun  and  the  projectile,  is  also  shown. 

With  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  at  the  disposal  of  Taussig,  he  is  able 
to  make  quite  a  creditable  showing  at  torpedo,  boat  and  battalion  drills 
and  search  light  drills.  Two  steam  launches  dodge  about  in  the  lake 
perpetually  and  the  captain's  gig  and  the  whale  boats  are  lowered  and 
sent  out  for  a  spin. 

A  Formidable   Craft. 

The  models  sent  from  the  Navy  Department  in  Washington,  for  dis- 
play on  the  Illinois,  are  those  of  the  coast  defenders  Manitonomoh, 
Monadnock  and  Monterey ;  the  armored  cruisers  Maine,  New  Ironsides 
and  New  York  ;  the  protected  cruisers  Baltimore,  Charleston,  Newark, 
Olympia,  Petrel  and  Yorktown ;  the  wooden  cruisers  Colorado,  Hart- 
ford, Kearsarge,  Merrimac,  Mississippi,  Niagara,  Constitution  and  Ports- 
mouth, and  in  the  special  class  the  dynamite  cruiser  Vesuvius.  There 
are  models  of  sections  of  the  Raleigh  and  the  Chicago. 

The  Bureau  of  Navigation  has  a  display  in  the  section  devoted  to  hy- 
drography of  the  system  of  chart  construction  observed  by  the  navy  and 
an  exhibit  of  photographs  showing  surveyors  engaged  in  the  work  of 
collecting  materials  for  maps.  An  interesting  exhibit  is  a  relief  map  of 


630  UNITED  STATES  NAVAL  EXHIBIT. 

the  Atlantic  Ocean.  In  marine  meteorology  there  are  bulletins  and 
charts  showing  the  climate  of  different  seas  and  the  places  where  it  is 
likely  that  storms,  winds,  fogs,  ice  and  rains  will  be  encountered.  The 
location  of  derelict  wrecks  and  ice  is  noted  and  the  method  of  stilling 
the  waves  with  oil  is  explained. 

The  showing  of  instruments  includes  the  deep  sea  sounding  machine 
the  deep  sea  thermometer,  oil  distributors  and  the  personal  equation  in- 
strument. This  registers  the  variation  of  an  individual  from  the  standard 
in  taking  observations  of  the  heavens,  for  instance.  One  man's  work 
will  habitually  be  warped  by  his  personal  peculiarities,  and  the  instru- 
ment gauges  these,  and  in  calculation  they  are  allowed  for,  a  register 
being  kept  of  the  probable  variation  of  each  man. 

What  the  Sailor  Boys  do. 

Those  interested  in  the  United  States  Naval  Academy  at  Annapolis  are 
able  to  inspect  the  programmes  of  their  examinations,  see  their  drawings 
and  other  products.  There  is  a  seventy-five  horse  power  ferry  launch 
compound  engine  made  by  the  cadets.  A  lot  of  knots  and  splices,  mys- 
terious to  the  landsman  and  the  accoutrements  of  the  boys  and  their 
boxing,  fencing  and  gymnastic  accoutrements  are  on  view. 

From  the  Bureau  of  Ordnance  are  supplies  of  small  arms,  small  and 
big  rifles  and  double  action  revolvers.  The  Bureau  contributes  the  shells 
and  powder  tanks.  In  the  torpedo  station  are  shown  a  spar  torpedo  and 
boat  outfit,  an  automobile  torpedo  designed  in  1869,  of  which  the  mo- 
tive power  is  compressed  air ;  the  Howell  torpedo,  propelled  by  a  fly 
wheel  in  rotation,  and  the  Lay-Haight  torpedo  controlled  with  an  elec- 
tric cable  and  propelled  by  liquefied  carbon  dioxide.  Under  the  head 
of  mines  is  one  of  those  used  by  the  Confederates  in  the  defense  of  their 
rivers  and  harbors  and  a  kind  of  submarine  mine  called  "  devils,"  used 
by  them  to  destroy  boats  engaged  in  raising  floating  mines. 

The  anarchists  of  the  world  may  delight  themselves  with  an  exhibit  of 
explosives,  such  as  picric  acid,  sodium  picrate,  potassium  picrate,  am- 
monium picrate,  barium  picrate,  strontium  picrate,  calcium  picrate, 
magnesium  picrate,  napthaline  methyl  alcohol,  mono-nitro  benzine, 
meta-dinitro  benzine,  phenol  and  benzine.  There  are  specimens  of  elec- 
tric fuses,  igniters,  primers  and  apparatus  to  test  detonators  before  firing. 
The  manufacture  of  gun  cotton  is  shown  by  photographs. 

An  interesting  collection  is  a  lot  of  articles  recovered  by  sailors  of  the 
navy  from  a  British  transport  sunk  in  1778  in  sixty  feet  of  water  in  New- 
port harbor,  to  prevent  her  being  captured  by  the  French  fleet.  These 
historic  relics  awaken  unusual  interest. 


UNITED   STATES  NAVAL  EXHIBIT.  631 

The  Armor  Plate  Show. 

The  armor  plate  display  includes  a  section  from  the  battle-ship  In- 
diana. It  is  fourteen  inches  thick,  ten  feet  long  and  six  feet  three  inches 
wide,  the  weight  being  eighteen  tons.  It  has  been  fired  at  three  times. 
There  is  also  some  of  the  curved  armor  plate  of  the  barbette  coast  de- 
fense ship  Monterey,  which  also  has  been  fired  at,  and  models  of  a  sec- 
tion of  a  monitor,  of  a  ic-inch  shell  gun,  and  a  hundred  pounder  Parrott 
rifle.  Electric  welded  projectiles,  boilers,  engines  and  specimens  of  the 
navy  rations  both  of  food  and  clothing  are  also  there  for  inspection. 

By  the  Bureau  of  Equipment  there  are  shown  all  sorts  of  outfits  and 
stores  for  boatswains,  carpenters  and  sailmakers.  There  is  a  quantity  of 
electric  material,  ampere  motors,  dynamos,  ground  detectors,  lights, 
running  and  masthead. 

The  Nautical  Almanac  Office  has  sent  a  phototachmometer  with  which 
the  velocity  of  light  was  measured  during  the  years  1880-82. 

The  Naval  Observatory  is  very  well  represented  with  astronomical 
clocks,  the  aneroid  barometer  used  by  Captain  Hall  in  the  unfortunate 
Arctic  trip  of  the  Polaris,  chronographs,  chronometers  of  historic  inter- 
est, an  eclipse  camera,  electrical  testing  and  transmitting  apparatus  and 
a  photoheliograph. 

There  is  an  ample  supply  of  navigation  instruments  to  take  the  Illinois 
out  of  Chicago  if  she  were  movable.  They  include  azimuths,  electric 
registering  barometers,  ektropometer  (none  can  get  around  in  the  navy 
without  an  ektropometer),  fog  horns,  common  and  mechanical ;  artificial 
horizons,  lead  lines  rudder  telegraphs  and  indicators  and  sounding  ma- 
chines. 


CHAPTER   XXXIV. 
Woman's    Marvellous    Achievements. 

BY  NANCY  HUSTON  BANKS. 

Member  of  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers. 

THROUGHOUT  the  whole  vast  area  of  the  Exposition  site,  with 
its  collected  wonders  of  the  world,  there  is  nothing  of  more  pro- 
found   interest  than    the  Women's    Building.      It   not   only 
stands  for  a  great  deal — for  a  monument  to  the  civilization  of 
the  period,  the  fin-de-siecle  triumph  of  womanhood — but  has  also  much 
intrinsic  attraction.      Encompassed  by  blooming  shrubs  and   radiant 
flowers,  outlining  a  classic  white  silhouette  against  the  summer  sky, 
crowned  by  the  tall  waving  palms  of  its  roof  garden,  it  is  a  sight  to  feast 
the  eyes. 

It  is  located  at  the  north-western  end  of  Jackson  Park,  having  the 
Illinois  State  Building  on  the  one  side,  the  Horticultural  and  Children's 
Palace  on  the  other,  the  silvery  lagoon  with  its  flowery  island  being 
near  by.  There  is  no  more  desirable  site  within  the  World's  Fair  gates, 
the  Exposition  management  having  given  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers 
the  choice,  when  their  splendid  structure,  costing  nearly  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  was  decided  upon.  Directly  in  front  of  the  building 
the  lagoon  takes  the  form  of  a  bay,  about  400  feet  in  width.  From  the 
centre  of  this  bay  a  grand  landing  and  broad  flight  of  steps  lead  to  a 
terrace  six  feet  above  the  water.  Crossing  this  terrace  other  staircases 
give  access  to  the  ground,  four  feet  above,  on  which,  about  100  feet 
back,  the  building  is  situated.  The  first  terrace  is  designed  in  artistic 
flower  beds  and  low  shrubs,  forming,  together  with  the  creamy-white 
balustrades  rising  from  the  water's  edge,  and  also  in  front  of  the  second 
terrace,  a  charming  foreground  for  the  fine  edifice. 

A  Unique  Building. 

It  is  in  many  respects  a  unique  structure :  built  by  a  woman  for 
women,  the  creation  of  the  brain  and  technical  skill  of  a  girl  of  twenty. 
Women  were  almost  entirely  unknown  as  architects  up  to  the  time  that 
the  invitation  to  competition  in  designs  for  the  Women's  Building  was 
given.  In  making  this  new  departure,  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers  re- 
632 


MRS.    NANCY    HUSTON    BANKS. 


WOMAN'S   MARVELLOUS  ACHIEVEMENTS.  633 

linquished  an  opportunity  of  having  their  building  designed  by  Richard 
Hunt,  and  thus  in  their  zeal  for  the  advancement  of  women,  gave  up  a 
splendid  certainty  for  an  uncertainty.  But  if  the  result  was  awaited 
with  some  apprehension,  there  was  full  compensation  when  it  finally 
came.  History  already  records  the  sinking  of  heart  with  which  Mrs. 
Potter  Palmer,  the  president  of  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers,  went  to 
examine  the  submitted  designs,  in  conference  with  the  chief  architect  of 
the  World's  Fair.  It  may  be  imagined  then  how  great  was  the  surprise 
and  delight  with  which  she  discovered  the  general  excellence  of  the 
designs.  There  were  fourteen  of  them,  all  the  work  of  young  American 
women,  most  of  whom  were  under  twenty,  and  it  is  perhaps  worthy  of 
mention  that  with  two  exceptions,  the  artists  were  all  from  the  south- 
ern and  western  states. '  The  plans  were  all  good — several  excellent,  and 
a  few  were  fine.  The  design  finally  accepted — with  the  award  of  the 
prize  of  a  thousand  dollars — was  that  of  Sophia  G.  Hayden  of  Boston. 

Miss  Hayden,  who  was  a  pupil  in  the  architectural  class  in  the  School 
of  Technology,  in  Boston,  and  graduated  with  high  honors,  immediately 
came  to  Chicago,  and  personally  made  the  plans  and  elevations  for  the 
building. 

Beautiful  Specimen  of  Architecture. 

It  is  in  the  purest  style  of  the  Italian  Renaissance,  the  principal  facade 
having  an  extreme  length  of  four  hundred  feet,  with  a  width  of  half  the 
distance.  The  delicate  grace  of  its  lines,  and  the  daintiness  of  its  dec- 
oration, possess  a  distinctly  feminine  charm.  The  main  grouping  consists 
of  a  center  pavilion  flanked  at  each  end  with  corner  pavilions  connected 
in  the  first  story  by  open  arcades  in  the  curtains,  forming  a  shady  prom- 
enade the  whole  length  of  the  structure.  The  first  story  is  raised  about 
ten  feet  from  the  ground  line,  and  a  wide  stairway  leads  to  the  center 
pavilion.  This  pavilion,  forming  the  main  triple-arched  entrance  with 
an  open  colonnade  in  the  second  story,  is  finished  with  a  low  and  beau- 
tifully proportioned  pediment  enriched  with  a  highly  elaborate  bas-relief. 
The  corner  pavilions,  being  like  the  rest  of  the  building,  two  stories  high, 
with  a  total  elevation  of  sixty-feet,  have  each  an  open  colonnade  added 
above  the  main  cornice.  Here  are  located  the  Hanging  Gardens,  which 
form  one  of  the  most  unusual  and  beautiful  features  of  the  building. 

A  lobby  forty  feet  wide  leads  into  the  open  rotunda  seventy  by  sixty-five 
feet,  reaching  through  the  height  of  the  structure,  the  whole  having  a 
thoroughly  Italian  court  yard  effect,  admitting  abundance  of  light  to 
the  rooms  facing  this  interior  space. 

But  before  entering  upon  a  detailed  description  of  the  inside  of  the 


631  WOMAN'S  MARVELLOUS  ACHIEVEMENTS. 

Woman's  Building  and  specific  mention  of  its  contents,  much  more 
should  be  said  of  the  women  who  designed  and  executed  its  exterior  dec- 
oration. For  the  statuary  and  sculptural  work  also,  as  for  architectural 
plans,  competitive  designs  were  invited,  and  again  the  result  was  a  de- 
lightful revelation  of  the  artistic  capacities  of  American  women.  The 
artists  outside  the  United  States  had  no  opportunity,  greatly  to  the 
regret  of  the  Lady  Managers,  to  enter  the  competition  owing  to  the  short 
time  allowed  in  which  drawings  and  models  might  be  submitted.  As 
before  it  was  young  America  who  won  the  prize,  which  was  awarded  to 
Alice  Rideout,  a  San  Francisco  girl.  The  award  was  merely  a  nominal 
sum  of  money,  but  including  the  very  substantial  emolument  of  making 
the  full  sized  models,  amounting  to  several  thousand  dollars.  Miss 
Rideout,  the  simplest  mannered,  least-self  conscious  of  geniuses — a 
pretty  shy  girl  scarcely  more  than  a  child — came  to  execute  her  designs 
and  succeeded,  molding  the  figures  from  life  out  of  the  mud  of  Jackson 
Park. 

When  her  fine  work,  which  stands  favorable  comparison  with  the 
examples  from  the  hands  of  master  artists  of  the  old  and  new  worlds, 
was  done,  she  went  quietly  away  as  silently  and  modestly  as  she  had 
come.  Her  work  however  remains,  consisting  of  two  sculptural  groups, 
repeated  at  intervals,  which  surmount  the  cornice  of  the  roof  garden. 
In  the  one  representing  "  Woman's  Virtues,"  the  slender  figure  of  "  In- 
nocence," wearing  the  virgin  veil  and  wreath,  rises  in  the  centre.  "Sac- 
rifice," in  the  garb  of  a  nun,  is  laying  her  jewels  upon  the  altar  on  one 
side ;  "  Charity "  cherishes  two  children  on  the  other.  In  the  other 
group,  the  Genius  of  Civilization,  with  outspread  wings  and  the  torch 
of  enlightenment  in  her  hand,  is  assisting  two  figures  to  rise.  The 
woman  of  the  past,  in  mediaeval  attire,  is  chained  and  downcast ;  the 
woman  of  to-day  wears  a  student's  cap  and  looks  eagerly  upward. 

Colossal  Figures. 

These  groups  are  of  heroic  size,  the  central  winged  figure  measuring 
ten  feet.  The  pediment  of  the  main  entrance  is  also  Miss  Rideout's 
work.  It  measures  forty  by  eight  feet,  is  executed  in  high-relief  and 
tells  the  life-story  of  woman,  what  she  has  done,  is  doing  and  is  endeav- 
oring to  do.  The  caryatides  supporting  the  balustrade  of  the  roof  gar- 
den were  designed  and  modeled  by  Enid  Yardell,  the  young  Kentucky 
Sculptor,  who  has  since  made  the  admirable  statue  of  Daniel  Boone  now 
adorning  the  Kentucky  State  Building. 

It  must  be  strikingly  apparent  from  what  has  already  been  said  that 
the  Board  of  Lady  Managers  has  from  its  organization  strenuously  en- 


WOMAN'S   MARVELLOUS  ACHIEVEMENTS.  635 

deavored  to  secure  for  women  every  artistic  and  industrial  opportunity 
afforded  by  the  Exposition.  From  the  beginning  the  board  has  fully 
realized  the  responsibility  of  its  official  power,  and  has  never  failed  to 
exert  its  influence  to  the  utmost  in  the  interest  of  women.  Indeed 
throughout  the  progress  of  the  Exposition,  in  its  every  department,  the 
Board  of  Lady  Managers  has  proven  not  only  the  argus-eyed  guardian, 
and  eloquent  advocate  of  the  interests  of  women,  but  in  the  widest  sense 
an  all-pervading  factor  in  the  success  of  the  World's  Fair.  Women 
have,  it  is  true,  given  valuable  aid  to  previous  expositions,  at  the  Cen- 
tennial and  at  the  New  Orleans  Exposition,  and  at  Paris  in  '89  committees 
of  women  did  most  effective  work.  But  they  were  merely  committees 
acting  wholly  in  a  subordinate  capacity,  and  although  the  French  gov- 
ernment authorized  and  recognized  the  woman's  committee,  known  as 
"a  congress  of  Feminine  works  and  Institutions,"  but  it  had  no  real  ex- 
ecutive power,  and  was  presided  over  by  a  man,  as  president. 

A  Far- Reaching  Organization. 

Nowhere  in  history  can  be  found  just  such  an  organization  as  the 
Board  of  Lady  Managers.  There  never  before  existed  a  legal  body, 
created  by  Act  of  Congress,  national  in  its  representation,  composed 
entirely  of  women,  and  invested  with  executive  authority.  When  the 
Board  first  assembled  the  unprecedented  spectacle  attracted  the  attention 
of  the  whole  civilized  world.  It  at  once  aroused  keen  European  inter- 
est, thus  opening  the  way  for  the  co-operation  among  foreign  women, 
which  the  Board  was  early  able  to  establish.  The  effect  in  the  United 
States  was  immediate  and  most  remarkable. 

The  membership  of  the  Board  was  not  only  representative  of  every 
state  and  territory  in  the  Union,  of  as  many  arts,  trades  and  professions 
as  if  it  had  been  composed  of  the  same  number  of  men,  but  included 
many  women  influential  in  social  and  political  circles.  Some  half-dozen 
States — Maine,  Arkansas,  Montana  and  Mississippi  for  example — were 
represented  on  the  Board  by  their  governor's  wives.  In  such  event  it  goes 
without  saying  that  the  first  direction  in  which  the  influence  of  the  Board 
made  itself  felt  was  in  influencing  local  World's  Fair  legislation.  Indeed  it 
is  along  this  line  that  the  Board  has  done  some  of  its  most  effective  ser- 
vice for  the  Exposition.  In  the  National  as  well  as  the  State  capitals, 
committees  of  the  Board  have  urged  World's  Fair  interest,  from  the 
standpoint  of  the  purest  patriotism,  far  above  all  suspicion  of  personal 
motive.  In  the  majority  of  the  states  and  in  all  the  territories  the 
women  took  the  initiative  in  World's  Fair.  In  several  states  they  bore 
the  burden  unaided,  and  actually  raised  the  necessary  funds  for  a  credit- 


636  WOMAN'S  MARVELLOUS  ACHIEVEMENTS. 

able  State  exhibit,  when  the  Legislature  had  failed  to  make  an  appropria- 
tion for  the  purpose.  Two  notable  instances  of  this  were  Virginia  and 
Texas,  whose  women  not  only  gathered  the  greater  portion  of  the  state 
displays,  but  the  money  for  the  erection  of  the  state  buildings. 

Throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  United  States  the  Lady 
Managers  have  been  working  on  behalf  of  the  Exposition.  They  have 
gathered  everything  worth  the  showing  that  women  are  accomplishing 
along  all  industrial  lines.  When  the  result  of  this  research  reached  the 
Exposition,  representatives  of  the  Board  were  waiting  on  the  alert  to 
secure  for  those  exhibits  of  woman's  work  the  most  advantageous  pro- 
curable installation.  When  small  isolated  exhibits  by  women  were 
crowded  out  by  splendid  ones  from  great  manufacturers,  the  Lady  Man- 
agers on  guard  in  the  various  departments  made  such  persistent,  just 
and  dignified  demand  for  space  for  the  small  exhibitors,  that  it  was  at 
last  granted. 

Their  Perfect  Equality. 

As  women  are  participants  on  perfect  equality  with  men  in  every  di- 
vision of  the  classification,  some  uncertainty  existed  in  the  public  mind, 
up  to  the  opening  of  the  Woman's  Building  as  to  the  nature  of  its  con- 
tents. This  can  perhaps  be  best  described  as  a  special  exhibit  of  the 
most  magnificent  performances  of  women  ;  of  the  things  in  which  they 
are  particularly  interested,  and  especially  of  their  most  admirable  work 
which  could  be  very  imperfectly  exhibited  under  the  general  classifica- 
tion. Such  for  example  as  the  innumerable  institutions  and  organiza- 
tions which  women  have  had  the  ideality  to  establish  and  the  courage 
and  perseverance  to  maintain,  for  the  physical  and  moral  good  of  hu- 
manity, for  the  amelioration  of  suffering  and  the  righting  of  wrong. 
Almost  one  entire  end  of  the  Woman's  Building  is  occupied  by  a  glor- 
ious showing  of  her  work  in  these  wide  fields. 

The  Associations  Room,  as  it  is  called,  is  one  of  the  most  attractive 
of  the  whole.  The  walls  are  tinted  a  cool  shadowy  blue,  and  the  hand- 
some brass  rods,  dividing  the  space  of  the  various  organizations,  are 
artistically  draped  with  silk  curtains  of  the  same  soft  hue.  The  exhibit 
is  necessarily  chiefly  cartographic,  but  is  international  in  scope,  repre- 
senting the  good  work  of  women  of  many  nations.  Religious  organiza- 
tions are  not  included,  as  these  are  usually  composed  of  both  men  and 
women,  and  only  those  established  and  conducted  entirely  by  women 
are  shown. 

The  Grand   Central  Hall. 

From  the  door  of  the  Association  Room,  which  is  on  the   second 


WOMAN'S   MARVELLOUS   ACHIEVEMENTS.  637 

floor,  a  splendid  view  is  procurable  of  the  Grand  Central  Hall,  known 
as  the  Gallery  of  Honor.  In  this  the  dedicatory  ceremonies  were  held  on 
opening  day,  and  no  single  event  contributing  to  the  spendor  of  that  grand 
occasion  excited  more  interest  than  the  dedication  of  the  Woman's 
Building.  A  temporary  platform  was  erected  near  the  centre  on  the 
west  side  of  the  gallery,  and  on  it  were  seated  many  notable  women, 
prominent  in  World's  Fair  work,  in  Europe  as  well  as  America.  The 
programme  opened  with  a  grand  march,  composed  by  Jean  Ingeborg 
Von  Bronsart,  of  Weimar,  Germany,  which  was  followed  by  a  prayer, 
by  Miss  Ida  Hultin.  The  dramatic  overture,  by  Miss  Frances  Ellicott, 
of  London,  preceded  a  brilliant  address  by  Mrs.  Potter  Palmer,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers. 

The  jubilate  composed  especially  for  this  occasion  by  Mrs.  H.  H.  A, 
Beach,  of  Boston,  was  followed  by  addresses  by  the  distinguished 
women  representing  foreign  countries.  The  Duchess  de  Veragua,  who 
was  announced  to  speak  for  Spain,  begged  to  be  excused  because  of  her 
limited  knowledge  of  the  English  language.  The  Countess  de  Brazza, 
representing  Italy,  was  unable  to  be  present  owing  to  the  serious  illness 
of  her  child,  and  Madame  Mariotti,  the  assistant  of  the  Countess  in 
charge  of  the  Italian  Woman's  exhibit,  delivered  the  address  for  that 
country. 

A  Message  from  the  Queen. 

Mrs.  Bedford-Fenwick,  of  the  English  commission,  spoke  for  her 
country-women,  giving  a  message  from  the  Queen.  Her  Majesty,  the 
messenger  said,  did  not  as  a  rule  feel  any  interest  in  Expositions,  but  was 
deeply  interested  in  this,  "  because  of  what  it  was  doing  for  women." 
The  Countess  of  Aberdeen  spoke  for  Scotland  and  Ireland ;  Madame 
Kaselouski  for  Germany,  and  Princess  Schachoffsky  for  Russia.  With 
the  hymn  "America"  and  the  Benediction,  the  formal  programme 
ended,  but  was  succeeded  by  the  lighter,  though  not  less  interesting 
incident  of  driving  the  last  nail  in  the  Woman's  Building.  It  had  been 
decided  more  than  a  year  previously,  that  Mrs.  Palmer  should  drive  it, 
and  Montana  offered  to  furnish  the  historic  nail.  It  was  accordingly 
made  of  the  precious  metal  of  the  State,  and  set  with  a  native  sapphire. 
It  was  driven  by  Mrs.  Palmer,  amidst  radiant  smiles  and  ringing  cheers, 
at  the  close  of  the  Dedicatory  ceremonies  on  opening  day,  and  will  be 
exhibited  during  the  Exposition  with  the  artistic  hammer  given  by 
Nebraska,  in  the  costly  casket  provided  for  it  by  Montana.  This  was  a 
reproduction  in  miniature  of  the  celebrated  mineral  palace  in  Pueblo. 

The  coloring  of  this  majestic  hall  is  ivory  white  radiating  into  mellow 


638  WOMAN'S    MARVELLOUS   ACHIEVEMENTS. 

yellow,  and  brilliantly  pricked  out  with  gold.  The  tympana  paintings 
first  attract  the  visitor's  gaze,  and  have  indeed  been  the  objects  of 
general  interest,  since  the  announcement,  that  these  two  large  surfaces 
were  to  be  decorated  by  mural  paintings  by  women.  The  undertaking 
was-  so  ambitious,  and  a  mistake  in  the  selection  of  the  artist  would 
have  been  so  irretrievable,  that  great  caution  was  exercised. 

Famous  Women  Artists. 

Since  only  women  were  to  be  permitted  to  decorate  this  beautiful 
building,  designed  by  a  woman  for  women,  and  the  Board  of  Lady 
Managers  with  patriotic  loyalty  earnestly  desired  that  the  paintings 
should  be  done,  if  poss  ible,  by  American  women,  Mrs.  Palmer,  Pre- 
sident of  the  Board,  sought  the  best  brushes  among  American  women 
artists  in  Paris,  and  there  can  be  no  question  that  in  the  hands  of  Mary 
Fairchild  Mac  Monnaies  and  Mary  Cassatt,  these  were  found. 

The  choice  of  Mrs.  Mac  Monnaies  was  received  with  perfect  satisfac- 
tion in  her  own  country,  where  she  is  well  known  by  previous  fine  work. 
As  a  native  of'  St.  Louis,  her  studies  in  its  museum  and  school  were 
preliminary  to  several  years  with  Boulanger,  Bouguereau,  Robert 
Fleury  and  Lefebvre.  Her  taste  inclined  naturally  to  decorative  work, 
and  there  is  no  question  about  the  self-consistency  or  the  pictorial 
qualities  of  her  tympanum  on  the  north  wall  of  the  Woman's  Building. 
It  represents  woman  as  a  burden  bearer,  the  symbols  being  various  and 
apt,  the  drawing  fair,  the  tone  soft  and  warm,  the  feeling  gentle  and  the 
color  well  adapted  to  combine  with  the  preponderating  values  of  the 
mural  treatment.  This  is  entitled  "  The  Primitive  Woman,"  the  agree- 
ment that  one  painting  should  be  so  called,  and  the  companion  picture 
at  the  opposite  end  of  the  gallery  "  The  Modern  Woman  "  being  the 
only  requirement  made  in  advance  of  the  artists.  To  have  required 
that  they  should  agree  upon  twins  for  the  tympana  would  have  been  to 
end  the  project  before  it  was  commenced.  Each  was  left  free,  as  she 
should  have  been,  to  make  her  individual  expression  for  the  World's 
Fair  epoch  of  woman,  ideal,  moral,  social. 

Unlike  Mrs.  Mac  Monnaies  Miss  Cassatt,  although  an  American  born 
in  Philadelphia,  is  almost  wholly  unknown  in  the  United  States.  There 
are  two  causes  for  this,  one  being  the  fact  that  she  seems  to  have  im- 
bibed the  prejudice  of  her  master  Degas  against  exhibition,  and  con- 
sequently has  never  exhibited  in  America,  the  second  being  her  long 
residence  abroad,  and  thorough  identification  with  the  painters  of  France, 
who  say  of  her — as  they  do  of  no  other  woman  artist — "  she  is  of  us." 
There  is  much  greater  difference  of  opinion  concerning  Miss  Cassatt's 


WOMAN'S   MARVELLOUS  ACHIEVEMENTS.  639 

painting  than  that  of  Mrs.  Mac  Monnaies,  but  taken  as  a  whole  it  is  a 
genuine  sensation,  from  the  artist's  point  of  view,  the  philosopher's  and 
the  woman's.  In  this  triptych  which  arouses  such  hot  debate,  several 
female  figures  are  swiftly  pursuing  a  disappearing  phantom  fleshly 
enough  to  be  a  coherent  part  of  the  realistic  composition.  It  is  a  nude 
figure,  having  assumedly  cast  off  the  garments  of  conventionality.  It  is 
fame,  and  ducks  are  quacking  at  the  rapid  heels  of  the  pursuers.  Sus- 
picion has  in  fact  been  engendered  that  these  ducks  were  geese — with 
subtle  sarcastic  reference  to  a  wild  goose  chase.  In  the  central  frame  a 
number  of  women  are  knocking  apples  off  a  tree,  some  with  ladders, 
some  with  poles.  In  the  west  panel  a  woman  is  performing  a  skirt 
dance,  another  woman  is  thrumming  the  staccato  of  the  measure  on  a 
banjo,  and  the  third  is  enjoying  the  combined  rhythm.  This  is  what 
Miss  Cassatt  offers  as  "  The  Modern  Woman." 

The  field  of  the  triptych  is  grass  green ;  the  broad  border  is  ultra- 
marine blue.  There  are  medallions  accentuating  the  border  at  intervals 
and  fringes  of  Cupids  edge  it  where  a  little  more  pinky  yellow  was 
needed  to  relieve  the  strain.  There  is  capital  light  throughout  the 
work.  The  drawing  is  forcible  ;  each  story  is  told  with  power  and  even 
with  emphasis ;  the  coloring  is  audacious,  especially  in  the  fundamentals, 
and  the  tympanum. 

"  Sweet  and  Fashionable." 

Certain  critics  say  the  painting  is  trivial  and  below  the  dignity  of  its 
position.  On  the  other  hand  an  able  writer  about  it  says  :  "  Instead  of 
being  an  affront  to  her  sex  in  its  modern  aspiration,  pretension  and 
accomplishments,  Miss  Cassatt' s  daring  triptych  is  a  superb  demonstra- 
tion of  eternal  truth.  If  women  to-day  pursue  the  phantom  fame,  do 
not  quackers  run  after,  bidding  her  return  to  ducklings  and  domestic 
employment  ?  If  she  wish  the  apples,  whether  of  hesperian  fields  or  of 
knowledge,  must  she  not  climb  and  aim  high,  hit  and  miss?  What, 
after  all,  does  the  rest  of  the  world  really  want  of  her  ?  Not  that  she 
shall  devote  herself  to  literature  or  art  or  science,  but  that  she  shall  be 
pretty  and  sweet  and  fashionable ;  and  are  not  the  skirt  dance  and  banjo 
the  most  witty  and  felicitous  symbols  that  a  shrewd  artist  could  have 
chosen  to  illustrate  prevalent  taste  in  society,  in  drama,  in  literature,  in 
music  ?  Yet  a  cad,  writing  about  this  decoration,  had  the  crass 
stupidity  to  intimate  that  in  putting  this  striking  bit  of  truth  into  a  panel 
Miss  Cassatt  had  offended  against  propriety  !  " 

Safer  ground  is  found  in  the  two  large  panels  on  the  east  and  west 
side  of  the  gallery,  which  complete  its  mural  decorations.  The  first 


610  WOMAN'S   MARVELLOUS   ACHIEVEMENTS. 

two  which  are  similar  in  design,  and  identical  in  treatment,  are  by  Miss 
Emmet  and  Mrs.  Sherwood,  of  New  York.  They  are  ideal  representa- 
tions of  the  arts  and  sciences,  consisting  wholly  of  female  figures.  The 
opposite  pannels  are  strikingly  dissimilar.  One  by  Mrs.  Sewell  being 
pervaded  by  soft  olives  and  shading  blues,  portrays  idealic  maidens,  sur- 
rounded by  sheep,  amidst  an  Algerian  landscape.  Adjoining  is  Miss 
Fairchild's  panel  of  the  "  Puritan  Maidens  "  with  all  the  angularity  and 
raw  coloring  of  the  decorative  school.  Around  the  vaulted  walls  be- 
tween the  arches,  inscribed  in  letters  of  gold  are  the  names  of  celebrated 
women.  Of  great  queens  whose  lives  have  bettered  humanity,  of  women 
famous  in  art  and  literature ;  at  the  north  end  of  the  building  is  the 
name  of  Bertha  Honore  Palmer,  President  of  the  Board  of  Lady  Mana- 
gers, and  at  the  south  end  that  of  Sophia  G.  Hajdon,  architect. 

Below  these  luminous  names  in  gold  script,  are  hung  the  best  paint- 
ings in  oil  exhibited — by  women  of  course — in  the  Woman's  Building. 
They  are  by  foreign  as  well  as  American  artists,  and  it  may  be  well  to 
explain  in  this  connection,  that  as  a  rule  the  pictures  contributed  by 
the  foreign  committees  are  not  exhibited  in  their  respective  sections, 
this  being  impracticable,  but  en  masse  in  the  Gallery  of  Honor. 

In  the  Belgian  division,  however,  there  are  several  paintings,  and 
among  them  a  landscape  by  the  Countess  of  Flanders.  The  most  ob- 
served picture  in  the  Gallery  of  Honor  is  "  Jean  et  Jacques,"  by  Marie 
Bashkirtseff,  which  is  a  life-sized  painting  of  the  ragged  little  gamins 
whom  she  loved  to  portray.  Just  under  this  picture,  and  following  the 
line  of  French  paintings,  is  a  row  of  cases  containing  a  fine  collection  of 
miniature  and  other  paintings  on  ivory.  An  old  man's  head,  by  Del- 
phine  de  Cool,  attracts  much  attention  in  the  division  of  France,  while 
nearly  opposite,  in  the  American  division  are  the  "  Down  Piccadilly,' '  and 
"Wayfarers,''  of  Maria  Brooks,  always  with  a  crowd  before  them. 
"  Eurydice  sinking  into  Hades,"  by  Henrietta  Rae,  is  notable,  aside 
from  its  intrinsic  merit,  as  the  only  life-sized  painting  of  the  nude.  A 
German  canvas,  by  Hanna  Bohm,  of  an  old  man  seeing  a  vision  of  future 
existence,  is  conspicuous  because  of  its  size,  being  the  largest  in  the 
gallery. 

Choice  Works  in  Marble  and  Bronze. 

Of  the  marbles,  Sarah  Bernhardt's  "Little  Girl,"  and  life-sized  bust  in 
bas-relief  of  Ophelia,  are  conspicuous.  Two  statues  in  bronze,  by 
Madame  Bertaud,  stand  in  the  center  of  the  Gallery,  near  the  bronze 
fountain,  designed  by  Anne  Whiting.  Her  marble  bust  of  Mrs.  Stowe, 
which  is  in  the  Library  of  the  building,  is  a  particularly  fine  example  of 


WOMAN'S   MARVELLOUS   ACHIEVEMENTS.  641 

her  work,  and  the  unveiling  of  it  by  Mrs.  Isabella  Beecher  Hooker,  the 
distinguished  sister  of  the  famous  subject,  was  one  of  the  most  memo- 
rable events  associated  with  the  opening  of  the  Woman's  Building.  A 
bronze  statue  of  Leif  Ericsson  (also  Miss  Whitney's  work)  stands  in  the 
west  vestibule,  near  the  silver  fountain,  presented  by  the  women  of  Mon- 
tana. Vinnie  Ream  Hoxie  has  three  pieces  of  sculpture  in  the  gallery, 
"America,"  "Miriam"  and  "The  West."  There  are  statuettes  by 
Edmonia  Lewis,  and  busts  of  Lincoln  and  Grant,  by  Mrs.  Ames.  But 
one  might  fill  a  volume  with  detailed  descriptions  of  the  beautiful  works 
of  art  found  under  this  arched  roof  of  glass. 

Leading  into  it  from  the  east  entrance  is  the  vestibule  decorated  by 
the  women  of  the  English  committee.  The  mural  paintings  on  the 
walls  represent  the  advancement  of  woman,  and  the  ceiling  is  painted 
to  produce  the  effect  of  a  dull  red  canopy  fringed  with  gold,  and  drawn 
into  artistic  folds.  The  entire  exhibit  of  Great  Britain  is  interesting 
and  complete.  The  Welch  woman  in  her  quaint  hat  and  picturesque 
costume,  weaving  the  celebrated  Tweed  cloths  on  an  antiquated  loom,  is 
the  striking  feature  of  the  main  exhibit  in  the  north-west  end  of  the 
Woman's  Building.  Some  wonderful  specimens  of  book  binding  are 
shown,  notably  those  from  Miss  Helen  Bayley's  book  binding  establish- 
ment in  London.  Miss  Bayley  employs  only  women,  and  some  of  their 
handiwork  is  beautiful,  and  is  said  by  competent  critics  to  far  surpass 
anything  of  the  kind  in  this  country.  Among  the  books  sent  by  Miss 
Bayley  are  ten  volumes  of  Shakespeare's  works,  bound  in  cut  leather, 
and  a  volume  of  Dante  bound  in  the  same  material.  Miss  Charlotte 
Nordel,  superintendent  of  the  Princess  of  Wales'  Technical  School  at 
Sandringham,  is  also  a  contributor  to  the  book  covers,  and  Mrs.  Harry 
Brownlow  sends  some  books  covered  with  exquisite  embroidery. 

Rare  Old    Books. 

The  Royal  School  of  Art  in  Kensington  has  an  exhibit  of  books  bound 
in  vellum  and  illuminated.  The  carvings  in  ivory  are  all  beautiful,  but 
the  most  exquisite  piece  is  a  fan  carved  by  the  Countess  of  Tankerville; 
the  fifteen  sticks  are  of  carved  ivory,  and  the  rest  of  the  fan  is  of  white 
ostrich  feathers.  The  Countess  also  sends  some  beautifully  carved  plaques 
of  ivory.  A  copy  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  Bible,  the  original  of  which  is  in 
Queen  Victoria's  possession,  is  also  shown,  and  some  very  old  books,  one 
written  by  Dame  Gertrude  More,  and  another  by  Dame  Juliana  Berners. 

The  Countess  of  Strathmore  has  lent  an  old  piece  of  embroidery  from 
the  bed  of  Patrick,  Earl  of  Kinghorn.     It  is  worked  with  his  arms,  and 
was  done  about  the  year  1606. 
41 


642  WOMAN'S   MARVELLOUS   ACHIEVEMENTS. 

Two  music  stools  are  sent  by  Princess  Victoria  and  Maud  of  Wales. 
They  are  the  Princesses'  own  work  and  are  beautifully  done;  the  tops  are 
in  embossed  leather,  with  the  Princesses'  name  and  coronet  upon  them, 
and  the  stands  are  carved  in  oak  by  their  royal  highnesses.  They  are 
to  be  sold  and  the  money  devoted  to  charitable  purposes.  A  most  im- 
portant and  interesting  portion  of  the  English  exhibit  is  that  of  the 
London  Training  School  for  Nurses,  which  is  on  the  second  floor  of 
the  building,  occupying  an  entire  room,  with  all  the  approved  appliances 
of  the  modern  sick-room,  and  all  the  wonderful  devices  of  science  for 
the  relief  of  suffering.  But  returning  to  the  English  exhibit  on  the 
ground  floor,  that  of  Great  Britain  includes,  of  course,  the  adjoining  dis- 
plays by  Ireland,  Scotland  and  New  South  Wales — that  strange  region 
of  birds  wearing  fur  and  animals  hatching  eggs.  Some  of  the  extra- 
ordinary furs  and  other  things  as  remarkable,  form  features  of  the  latter's 

exhibit. 

Handiwork  of  Russian  Women. 

Near  at  hand  is  Russia's  large  and  unique  exhibit,  showing  the  handi- 
work of  her  women.  The  carved  walnut  frame  work  of  the  section  and 
its  splendid  gilded  entrance  are  especially  notable.  This  display  is 
characteristic  in  a  peculiar  degree  of  the  remarkable  country  from  which 
it  comes.  Side  by  side  here,  as  in  Russia  itself,  are  supreme  culture 
and  fabulous  wealth  with  the  piteous  poverty  and  ignorance  of  barbar- 
ism. The  strange,  primatively-fashioned  garments  of  the  peasantry 
alternate  around  the  walls  with  hangings  of  unimaginable  magnifi- 
cence. 

Perhaps  the  most  striking  feature  of  the  exhibit,  which  is  so  fasci- 
nating as  a  whole,  is  the  large  case  containing  the  court  costumes  which 
are  the  property  of  the  Empress.  Judging  from  the  contour  of  these 
gowns  her  Imperial  Majesty  is  an  extremely  shapely  woman.  The  robes 
are  not  only  rich  and  costly,  far  beyond  anything  exhibited  throughout 
the  entire  Exposition,  but  are  also  exceedingly  modish  and  beautiful. 
One  is  of  a  peculiar  fabric  woven  of  vivid  red  silk  and  threads  of  pure 
gold.  The  effect  is  novel  and  dazzling  beyond  description,  and  the 
gown  is  further  enriched  with  elaborate  embroidery  in  pure  gold.  A 
second  costume  is  entirely  composed  of  mingled  gold  and  silver 
embroidery,  bordered  with  sable. 

The  educational  and  industrial  division  of  the  Russian  exhibit  are 
most  comprehensive,  and  the  art  display  also  is  full.  Of  the  latter  are 
two  ideal  busts  from  the  chisel  of  the  brilliant  lady  who  is  in  personal 
charge  of  the  Russian  Woman's  exhibit.  This  lady,  the  Princess  Schac- 
hovsky,  has  already  been  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  opening 


WOMAN'S    MARVELLOUS    ACHIEVEMENTS.  643 

ceremonies  of  the  Woman's  Building.  A  number  of  valuable  pictures 
by  women  are  included  in  this  exhibit,  and  a  head  of  Christ  is  valued  at 
ten  thousand  roubles.  A  collection  of  manikins,  dressed  in  the  cos- 
tumes characteristic  of  the  many  different  provinces  of  Russia,  attract 
much  attention. 

Russian  Women  in  Hearty  Sympathy. 

The  enthusiasm  with  which  Russian  women  of  all  ranks  entered  into 
the  preparation  of  this  combined  exhibit  of  their  work  was  most  marked. 
The  Empress  herself  headed  the  movement  with  the  profoundest  inter- 
est, and  before  the  collection  was  shipped  from  St.  Petersburg  to  the 
World's  Fair,  made  a  close  personal  inspection  of  it. 

No  comprehensive  exhibit  of  the  work  of  Russian  women  has  ever 
been  attempted  before.  They  apparently  engage  to  a  considerable 
extent  in  the  manufacture  of  silk,  and  a  marvellously  fine  wool,  called 
"  The  Wool  of  the  Gods,"  is  shown  in  both  the  raw  and  manufactured 
state.  The  primitive  instruments  used  for  reducing  it  are  also  exhibited, 
and  it  seems  impossible  that  such  magical  results  could  be  wrought  by 
such  clumsy  means.  A  shawl  made  of  this  wonderful  wool  is  as  unsub- 
stantial as  a  summer  cloud.  Forty-seven  yards  square,  it  weighs  only 
eight  and  a  quarter  ounces,  a  veritable  shadow  of  a  shawl. 

A  large  case  of  embroideries,  chiefly  in  bullion,  constitute  the  exhibit 
of  the  Turkish  Compassionate  Fund.  Then  comes  the  Corn  Palace  of  the 
women  of  Iowa,  which  is  really  most  artistic,  and  near  it  case  after  case 
of  exquisite  china  forming  the  ceramic  exhibit.  The  National  Association 
of  Mineral  Painters  make  a  conspicuous  display,  and  the  exquisite  chyro- 
ceramic  ware  fills  an  entire  case  with  its  lustreless  gold.  In  this  same  por- 
tion of  the  building  is  the  display  of  embroideries,  and  an  attentive  exami- 
nation of  this  must  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  America  is  doing  the  finest 
embroidery  now  of  two  varieties.  One — that  exquisitely  effective  kind  in 
colored  silks  on  linen,  which  looks  like  hand  painting — seems  wholly 
confined  to  America,  there  being  no  trace  of  it  in  any  foreign  exhibit  of 
embroidery.  The  variety  displayed  by  the  National  Society  of  Decora- 
tive Art  is  also  of  an  artistic  beauty  unequaled  by  any  similar  exhibit 
from  any  foreign  country,  not  even  excepting  France. 

The  rooms  on  the  east  and  west  sides  of  the  Gallery  of  Honor  are 
full  to  overflowing  with  important  exhibits,  inventions — including  a 
reservoir — by  women,  and  a  striking  array  of  architectural  plans.  This 
latter  showing  may  be  regarded  as  the  direct  and  immediate  result  of 
the  stimulus  given  to  women  in  this  profession  by  the  efforts  of  the 
Board  of  Lady  Managers  in  connection  with  the  designs  for  the 


644  WOMAN'S   MARVELLOUS   ACHIEVEMENTS. 

Woman's  Building.  There  are  also  in  this  room  several  portable  kilns 
for  firing  china,  which  have  been  invented  by  women,  and  have 
proven  most  valuable.  The  next  is  called  the  educational  room,  and 
contains,  in  addition  to  a  large  cartographic  display,  the  exhibit  cf  the 
New  York  School  of  Applied  Arts,  that  of  the  Pratt  Institute  and  of 
Chicago's  Trade  Schools. 

Offered   for   Sale. 

Opposite  are  the  sales  rooms  of  the  Woman's  Building  wherein  the 
Lady  Managers  have  secured  an  opportunity  for  the  women  of  all  the 
principal  exchanges  throughout  the  country  to  dispose  of  their  goods 
under  most  advantageous  conditions.  The  variety  produced  by  exchange 
work  is  too  well  known  to  need  detailed  description,  but  one  unusual 
feature  is  the  "  nest "  basket,  made  by  the  Attakapas  squaws  of  southern 
Louisiana.  Only  two  members  of  this  otherwise  extinct  tribe  remain, 
and  these  are  both  old  women  of  over  eighty.  It  is  they  who  have 
made  the  exquisitely  fine  split  baskets  called  "  nests,"  because  one  basket 
fits  inside  another,  growing  gradually  smaller  towards  the  center.  Each 
nest  represents  two  years  of  patient  labor,  and  the  work  was  doubtless 
painful  as  well  as  difficult,  for  the  cane  is  split  by  the  teeth,  and  these 
poor  old  women  have  lost  most  of  theirs.  A  very  different  and  de- 
cidedly brilliant  display  is  made  by  the  Indian  women  of  the  Navajo 
tribe  by  their  beautiful  blankets.  These  were  woven  expressly  for  the 
ornamentation  of  the  Woman's  Building,  and  arranged  as  a  gorgeous 
canopy  and  wall  drapery  for  the  landing  of  the  southwest  stairs  landing, 
illuminate  a  rather  dark  spot. 

But  before  ascending  to  the  second  floor,  there  is  much  to  see  at  the 
south  end  of  the  building.  The  Spanish  Pavilion  stands  directly  in  front 
of  the  south  entrance,  and  is  imposing  in  its  size,  ornate  decoration,  and 
richness  and  fullness  of  its  exhibit.  The  ecclesiastical  embroideries  first 
dazzle  the  eye,  but  minute  inspection  discloses  the  fact  that  the  collection 
is  thoroughly  representative  of  the  industries,  avocations  and  interests  of 
Spanish  women  ;  the  showing  embracing  all  branches  from  the  humble  and 
primitive  work  of  the  women  living  on  Spanish  farms,  to  the  poems 
written  by  grand  dames  of  the  court.  The  collection  of  books  by 
Spanish  women,  is  among  the  largest  and  most  important  contributed  to 
the  Woman's  Library.  It  antedates  the  time  of  good  Queen  Isabella — 
including  the  writings  of  her  intimate  friend  and  confidential  adviser,  and 
comes  down  to  the  living  questions  of  to-day. 


WOMAN'S   MARVELLOUS   ACHIEVEMENTS.  645 

Other   Attractive   Exhibits. 

Bordering  upon  Spain's  pavilion  are  the  exhibits  of  Sweden,  Norway 
and  Siam,  the  latter  consisting  almost  entirely  of  the  gold  and  silver 
embroideries  characteristic  of  that  country.  Norway's  display  is  largely 
educational,  as  is  also  that  of  Sweden.  Fredericka  Bremer  inaugurated 
a  progressive  movement  among  Swedish  women,  which  is  still  steadily 
maintained  by  the  college  bearing  her  name.  From  Sweden,  by  the  way, 
came  the  largest  and  most  remarkable  statistical  showing  forwarded  by 
any  foreign  country.  And  the  collection  of  these  statistics  by  the  Board 
of  Lady  Managers  is  one  of  its  most  important  achievements.  Of  such 
importance  indeed  is  the  vast  undigested  mass  of  statistics  pertaining  to 
women — to  their  avocations,  to  their  social  and  political  condition,  to  their 
institutions  and  enterprises,  to  their  wages,  and  in  fact  to  all  the  particu- 
lar interests  of  the  sex — that  the  respectful,  not  to  say  covetous  atten- 
tion of  the  government  has  already  been  fixed  upon  it.  The  latter  could 
not  under  any  circumstances  have  secured  the  data  gathered  by  the 
Board  without  difficulty  or  expense.  An  entire  room  of  the  second 
floor  is  devoted  to  the  collection,  being  known  as  the  Record  Room. 
It  has  a  handsome  frieze  formed  of  the  carved  wood  panels  con- 
tributed by  women  of  many  states.  These  records  it  should  be  stated 
have  been  gathered  from  every  quarter  of  the  world.  The  government 
will  probably  be  consulted  as  to  the  final  disposition  of  the  valuable 
mass. 

Just  beyond  the  last  mentioned  exhibits,  are  those  of  Mexico,  Japan, 
Italy,  and  France.  The  latter  extends  entirely  across  the  west  curtain 
of  the  south  Pavilion,  and  is  characterized  by  all  the  artistic  perfection 
of  French  taste.  A  conspicuous  feature  of  it  is,  the  section  fitted  up  as 
a  Paris  drawing-room,  with  the  most  costly  and  beautiful  of  modern  ap- 
pointments. Sitting  about  this  dainty  apartment  are  wonderful  wax 
figures,  life  sized,  and  attired  in  the  height  of  the  fashion.  On  the  wall 
is  a  collection  of  exquisite  paintings  on  ivory,  and  "The  Lost  Pleiad," 
by  a  pupil  of  Bouguereau.  It  has  the  master's  marvellous  flesh  tint, 
and  a  pose  of  lovely  and  absolute  despair. 

Magnificent  Laces. 

The  Italian  division  is  guarded  by  a  railing  and  tall  gate  of  elaborate 
ironwork,  and  finished  with  fifteenth  century  carving.  Its  chief  attrac- 
tion it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  is,  the  famous  collection  of  laces, 
belonging  to  the  queens  of  Italy,  comprising  the  complete  history  of 
lace,  from  the  first  fragments  found  in  the  Egyptian  tombs,  to  the  most 


646  WOMAN'S   MARVELLOUS   ACHIEVEMENTS. 

modern  specimens,  and  includes  some  of  the  crown  laces.  The  collec- 
tion is  of  the  most  inestimable  value,  and  the  bringing  of  it  to  the  Expo- 
sition was  attended  with  much  diplomatic  formality — the  transfer  being 
made  from  the  Italian  government  to  that  of  the  United  States,  through 
the  State  Department  at  Washington. 

Opposite  is  the  exhibit  of  the  Women  of  Mexico,  hung  with  gorgeous 
altar  cloths,  embroidered  with  precious  stones  and  stiff  with  needlework 
of  the  most  elaborate  design.  One  is  of  the  color  of  the  sky  on  a  June 
afternoon,  and  was  studded  with  golden  stars.  They  are  each  and  all 
so  beautiful  that  one  could  not  wonder  at  the  drawing  power  of  a  re- 
ligion that  robed  its  altars  and  its  priests  with  such  splendid  pomp. 
These  tapestries  were  the  handiwork  of  nuns,  and  were  made  in  the 
sixteenth  century  mostly,  although  the  blue  velvet  robe  was  wrought  in 
a  certain  convent  as  recently  as  the  beginning  of  the  present  century. 
There  is  in  this  exhibit  a  number  of  embroidered  handkerchiefs  and 
portieres,  the  work  of  which  was  so  exquisitely  fine  that  not  a  stitch  was 
manifest,  and  not  a  thread  was  carried  through  on  the  other  side  of  the 
fabric.  The  effect  was  exactly  similar  to  the  daintiest  sketch  in  water 
colors.  And  in  this  connection  may  be  mentioned  two  remarkable 
screens  of  the  Swedish  display,  which  has  created  a  furore  among  the 
artists  of  the  Exposition.  They  are  painted  chiefly  in  dead  olives  and 
dim  blues,  and  the  design  is  a  group  of  pelicans  and  storks. 

Belgium's  Display. 

Passing  the  pathetic  model  of  Miss  Kate  Marsden's  Leper  village  in 
Northern  Siberia,  which  contrasts  so  strangely  with  the  brilliant  beauty 
of  the  things  about  it,  the  Belgian  exhibit  is  next  in  order.  The  facade 
of  this  exhibit  has  a  magnificent  drapery  of  embroidered  cloth,  done  by 
the  working  women  of  Brussels,  after  a  design  made  especially  for  it, 
by  an  eminent  artist  of  that  city.  Its  most  conspicuous  features  are  a 
stained  glass  window,  which  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  building's  stained 
glass  windows.  There  are  three  fine  ones  in  the  Assembly  Room, 
which  were  contributed  by  Massachusetts.  One  in  Connecticut  Room, 
two  given  by  New  York,  in  the  Library,  bearing  the  combined  seal  of 
the  State  and  the  Government,  and  one  in  the  Board  Room.  The  latter 
by  a  German  woman,  is  a  radiant  group  of  nude  nymphs,  done  in  leaded 
glass. 

But,  returning  to  the  Belgian  exhibit,  its  piece  de  resistance  is  a 
splendid  collection  of  the  beautiful  lace  for  which  Brussels  is  celebrated. 
The  queen  of  Belgium  is  herself  at  the  head  of  the  Woman  World's 
Fair  committee  for  that  country  ;  as  also  is  the  queen  of  Italy  in  hers. 


WOMAN'S   MARVELLOUS  ACHIEVEMENTS.  647 

Indeed  it  has  for  two  years  past  been  the  highest  fashion  among  Euro- 
pean aristocracy,  to  be  "  in  the  swim," — one  must  be  officially  connected 
with  the  Columbian  Exposition,  and  the  committees  of  women  in  almost 
all  countries,  contain  its  most  distinguished  names.  In  England  this 
is  conspicuously  the  case,  and  the  roster  beginning  with  the  Princess 
Christian  as  the  President,  lists  such  names  as  Lady  Randolph 
Churchill,  the  Baroness  Burdett-Coutts,  and  Lady  Jeune. 

Queens  Give  Aid. 

In  Japan  the  Empress,  who  is  a  progressive  woman  of  great  intelli- 
gence, gave  personal  patronage  to  World's  Fair  enterprises  among  her 
own  sex.  In  Germany  the  Princess  Frederick  Carl,  aunt  of  the  Em- 
peror, heads  the  World's  Fair  committee.  In  Russia  woman's  com- 
mittee in  the  name  of  the  family  of  mother  of  Peter  the  Great,  a  name 
so  distinguished  that  the  bearers  of  it  have  declined  to  accept  any  title. 
This  is  the  case  throughout  Europe,  and  the  striking  fact  is  almost  en- 
tirely due  to  the  personal  influence  during  a  couple  of  visits  abroad  in 
the  interests  of  the  Exposition  of  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Lady 
Managers.  Speaking  French  like  a  Parisian,  Mrs.  Palmer  was  able  to 
address  the  women  of  Paris  in  their  own  language,  and  by  this  means 
aroused  great  World's  Fair  enthusiasm  in  France  as  well  as  in  England, 
and  it  was  soon  communicated  to  all  the  important  nations  of  Europe. 

Japan's  display  in  the  Woman's  Building  is  characterized  by  the 
delicacy  and  exquisite  perfection  of  detail  which  characterizes  the  Japa- 
nese art  everywhere.  It  consists  of  two  tiny  apartments  representing 
the  boudoir  of  a  Japanese  woman  of  fashion,  and  is  as  dainty,  quaint, 
and  unique  as  herself.  Gazing  admiringly  in  at  the  open  door,  the 
visitor  wonders  if  ever  these  supple  small  brown  ladies  can  actually  sit 
upon  cushions  so  flat  and  tiny  as  these,  which  are  apparently  the  only 
furniture. 

From  Far-Off  Ceylon. 

Ceylon's  pavilion  is  perhaps  the  costliest  in  its  construction  of  any  in 
the  Woman's  Building.  The  pillars  are  of  solid  ebony  and  satin-wood, 
richly  carved,  and  the  pavilion  is  divided  into  two  sections,  one  con- 
taining the  exhibit  of  the  needlework  of  Ceylonese  women,  the  other 
serving  as  a  tea  room. 

Germany's  exhibit  of  woman's  skill  fills  the  entire  west  curtain  of  the 
building.  The  showing  so  large  and  so  varied  that  it  is  almost  im- 
possible to  single  out  any  special  feature  as  most  prominent.  Perhaps 
it  is  the  eminently  practical  and  useful  nature  of  the  general  display,  and 


648  WOMAN'S   MARVELLOUS  ACHIEVEMENTS. 

the  evidences  of  the  German  housewife's  skill  in  book-keeping.  There 
is  also  a  notable  showing  of  the  fine  work  done  by  German  women  in 
the  line  of  book  illustrations.  The  collection  of  books  written  by 
German  women  is  large  and  important,  covering  almost  the  entire  range 
of  literature.  It  numbers  over  three  hundred  handsomely  bound 
volumes,  and  was  generously  presented  by  the  German  commission  to 
the  Board  of  Lady  Managers,  for  their  disposal  after  at  the  close  of  the 
Exposition.  These  valuable  books  will  doubtless  form  the  nucleus  of  a 
library  for  the  permanent  organization  of  women  which  is  to  perpetuate 
the  progress  movement  inaugurated  in  connection  with  the  World's 
Fair. 

Most  Charming  of  All. 

The  Library  of  the  Woman's  Building  is  the  most  fascinating  spot 
under  its  lovely  roof  garden.  The  intrinsic  beauty  of  the  spacious 
room  is  in  itself  very  great.  It  was  finished  and  furnished  by  the  women 
of  New  York,  and  the  fine  ceiling  was  painted  by  Dora  Wheeler  Keith. 
The  design  is  in  accord  with  the  purpose  of  the  room,  portraying 
science,  literature  and  art,  with  exquisite  softness  of  coloring,  richness 
of  imagination  and  grace  of  drawing.  Around  the  walls  are  book  cases 
in  walnut  splendid  with  sixteenth  century  carving.  Along  the  top  of 
these  cases  are  artistic  vases,  palms  and  portraits  of  the  women  whose 
best  thought  enriches  the  laden  shelves  below.  There  are  over  five 
thousand  volumes  in  many  languages,  and  a  valuable  catalogue  is  being 
carefully  prepared. 

The  tables,  chairs  and  general  fittings  of  this  magnificent  room  are 
all  of  this  rich  sixteenth  century  carving  in  walnut.  Adjoining  the 
library  on  the  north  side — the  Record  Room  is  on  the  south — is  the 
annex  in  which  is  exhibited  the  best  things  women  have  done  in  the  way 
of  manuscripts,  music  and  every  kind  of  unbound  publications.  There 
are  also  drawings  in  this  exhibit,  and  the  wall  of  the  corridor  outside 
the  line  of  rooms,  in  the  vicinty  of  the  library,  is  covered  from  floor  to 
ceiling  with  etchings  by  French  and  English  women,  among  which  are 
many  bearing  famous  names.  There  are  four  by  Angelica  Kauffman, 
who,  although  a  native  of  Switzerland,  did  most  of  her  work  in  Eng- 
land, where  she  was  highly  esteemed,  and  upon  the  founding  of  the 
Royal  Academy  in  1768  was  elected  one  of  the  original  thirty-six  mem- 
bers. Different  varieties  of  drawing,  engravings,  dry-prints  and  etchings 
fill  the  gallery  walls  on  the  second  floor. 

A  Beautiful  Room. 
Round  the  door  of  the  Connecticut  Room,  which  comes  next  to  the 


WOMAN'S   MARVELLOUS   ACHIEVEMENTS.  649 

Library  annex,  are  drawings  by  American  women,  which  have  been 
used  in  the  illustration  of  the  leading  publications  of  the  United  States. 

This  Connecticut  Room  is  a  gem,  in  its  quiet  beauty  and  perfect 
appointments.  Two  other  states  in  addition  to  New  York  have 
finished  and  furnished  rooms  in  the  building,  and  Cincinnati  is 
the  only  city  who  has  done  so  without  outside  assistance.  Her 
room  is  directly  opposite  the  Library,  and  is  also  a  large  apartment. 
The  prevailing  tone  of  the  room  is  pink  terra-cotta,  and  the  wide  frieze 
of  roses  was  painted  by  Miss  Agnes  Pitman,  of  Cincinnati. 

The  Cincinnati  Room  with  the  Kentucky  and  California  Rooms 
opening  into  it,  may  be  called  the  drawing-room  suit  of  the  Woman's 
Building,  wherein  the  distinctly  social  functions  of  the  Board  of  Lady 
Managers  are  executed.  The  Kentucky  Room,  designed  by  Miss  Joe 
Carter,  of  Versailles,  in  that  state,  is  in  the  Colonial  style,  entirely  white 
and  gold,  and  its  furnishings  are  genuinely  antique,  many  articles  having 
historical  value.  On  the  walls  are  portraits  of  celebrated  Kentucky 
beauties,  some  of  them  from  the  brush  of  Sully  and  Gilbert  Stuart. 

California's  Red- Wood. 

The  California  Room  is  done  in  the  famous  red-wood  of  the  golden 
state,  richly  carved  and  highly  polished.  The  ceiling  also  is  of  this 
brilliant  wood,  and  the  wall  panels  are  brightened  by  paintings  character- 
istic of  California. 

The  entire  walls  and  ceiling  of  Mrs.  Palmer's  private  office  are  draped 
in  the  graceful  reddish  brown  and  ivory  white  nets  made  and  used  by 
rishermen.  The  President  of  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers,  feeling  the 
profoundest  interest  in  the  avocations  of  these  women  toilers  of  the  sea, 
and  the  deepest  sympathy  with  the  privations  of  their  hard  lives,  desired 
to  secure  for  them  the  best  possible  opportunity  for  exhibiting  their 
work.  This  was  finally  found  in  her  own  private  office,  and  its  walls 
and  ceiling  are  entirely  covered  by  graceful  drapery  formed  of  the  nets 
made  and  used  by  women.  These  are  varied  in  kind,  and  their  coloring 
of  reddish  brown  and  white  produces  a  most  pleasing  effect.  Between 
the  airy  festoons  are  placed  fine  water  color  paintings  of  the  aquatic 
birds  of  the  New  Jersey  coast,  and  the  decoration  is  further  increased 
by  picturesque  eel-pots  and  various  appliances  manufactured  and  used 
by  women  in  fishing. 

The  fishwomen  themselves  have  been  keenly  interested  in  this  exhibit, 
and  have  indeed  collected  and  contributed  it.  A  case  sent  by  them, 
which  stands  at  the  soulh  end  of  the  room,  is  a  striking  representation 
by  means  of  a  miniature  model  of  their  avocations,  surroundings  and 


650  WOMAN  S   MARVELLOUS   ACHIEVEMENTS. 

manner  of  life.  The  tiny  manikins  representing  themselves  were 
dressed  by  the  women,  and  their  husbands,  who  are  fishermen  in  the 
season,  and  members  of  the  Life  Saving  service  between  times,  made 
the  boats.  Over  the  mantle  in  this  unique  room  are  long  sprays  of 
pinkish  and  brown  sea  weed,  and  the  furniture  is  entirely  of  the  colonial 
period.  Some  of  the  articles  have  historical  associations,  as,  for  exam- 
ple, the  table  of  William  Penn,  and  the  sofa  on  which  Washington  used 
to  sit. 

The  model  kitchen  is  an  interesting  portion  of  the  exhibit  in  the 
Woman's  Building,  and  is  located  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  second 
floor.  This  is  equipped  with  a  gas  stove  and  all  the  newest  and  most 
approved  appliances  known  to  the  fine  art  of  modern  cookery.  Adjoin- 
ing is  an  ideal  pantry,  and  in  the  model  kitchen,  which  is  well  supplied 
with  audience  chairs,  daily  morning  lessons  are  given  with  practical 
demonstrations. 

The  Assembly  Hall  has  a  seating  capacity  of  seventeen  hundred.  It 
also  has  a  roomy  stage  handsomely  furnished  by  the  women  of  Mobile, 
Alabama.  In  the  centre  of  the  stage  stands  the  much  described  table 
made  by  the  women  of  Pennsylvania  from  historic  woods,  and  which 
was  presented  to  Mrs.  Palmer  with  the  single  proviso  that  she  should 
use  it  at  all  official  meetings  over  which  she  presides.  The  three  beau- 
tiful stained  glass  windows  made  by  Massachusetts  women,  and  pre- 
viously mentioned,  are  most  luminously  and  effectively  placed  in  the 
rear  of  the  stage.  On  its  walls  are  many  portraits  of  distinguished 
women,  the  most  conspicious  being  a  life-sized  likeness  of  the  Baroness 
Burdette-Coutts. 

On  the  south  wall  of  the  hall  is  a  large  collection  of  portraits  of  Eng- 
lish women  famous  in  literature,  art  and  the  drama,  which  was  made  by 
the  English  Woman's  World's  Fair  Committee.  In  this  Assembly 
Room  are  given  daily  lectures  on  subjects  of  especial  interest  to  women. 
A  committee  appointed  for  the  purpose,  gave  months  of  labor  and 
research  to  securing  the  ablest  wemen  in  the  several  lines,  and  dates 
have  been  arranged  for  every  day  of  the  exposition,  and  the  list  contains 
many  famous  names. 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 
Curious   Sights   Along   Midway   Plaisance. 

THERE  are  many  queer  things  at  the   Fair  with  queer  names. 
There  is  the  "  Midway  Plaisance,"  for  instance.      "  What  on 
earth  does  that  mean  ?  "    most  people  ask  when  they  hear  it 
for  the  first  time.  Whatever  it  may  mean  elsewhere,  in  Chicago  it 
means  simply  a  collection  of  side  shows.    The  "  Plaisance  "  is  an  avenue 
lined  with  buildings  in  which  entertainments  are  given,  but  where  the 
"  midway  "  comes  in  it  is  hard  to  guess.      The  name  was  selected  by  a 
committee  of  leading  citizens  who  wanted  to  get  up  something  high 
toned,  or,  as  they  put  it,  "  nobby."     It  is  certainly  a  very  nobby  name, 
and  no  other  word  so  well  describes  it.     To  call  the  thing  an  avenue,  it 
was  decided,  was  too  commonplace.  Indian  names  are  considered  vulgar 
by  many  people,  and  so  they  borrowed  a  word  from  the  French. 

It  is  along  the  Plaisance  that  the  jayhawk  loves  to  linger.  There  he 
can  see  Turks,  Moors  and  all  manner  of  wild  men  living  in  subjection  to 
the  laws  of  Illinois,  but  doing  it  in  their  own  way,  some  half  naked  and 
unwashed  and  others  anointed  with  grease  and  perfumes. 

The  Famous  Ferris  Wheel. 

If  the  last  Paris  Exposition  had  its  Eiffel  Tower,  our  own  World's 
Fair  has  its  Ferris  Wheel,  nor  can  it  be  said  the  former  caused  any 
greater  sensation  than  the  latter.  The  Ferris  wheel  is  the  real  triumph 
of  the  Midway  Plaisance.  It  represents  better  than  any  other  exhibit 
the  genius  of  American  invention.  It  looks  something  like  the  paddle 
wheel  of  a  steamer,  multiplied,  however,  a  hundredfold.  Instead  of  the 
paddles  it  bears  passenger  cars,  and  when  it  revolves  the  passengers  get 
something  of  the  sensation  that  a  fly  must  have  that  sits  on  the  side  of 
a  cart  wheel  and  feels  it  revolve. 

The  entire  structure  is  of  steel,  and  somewhat  resembles  a  huge  bicy- 
cle wheel  revolving  between  two  towers.  The  principle  of  construction 
is  somewhat  similar  to  an  old  English  breast  water-wheel,  in  that  it  con- 
sists of  a  stiff  outer  crown  which  is  suspended  from  the  center  axle  by  a 
system  of  tension  rolls.  The  wheel  practically  consists  of  two  wheels 
placed  on  the  same  axle,  spaced  a  distance  of  twenty -eight  and  one-half 
feet  apart,  and  held  together  by  struts  and  ties. 

651 


652 


SIGHTS   ALONG   MIDWAY    PLAISANCE. 


Imagine  a  wheel  264  feet  in  height,  and  250  feet  in  diameter,  and 
around  it,  suspended  between  the  two  crowns  by  great  steel  trunnion 
pins,  thirty-six  passenger  cars,  weighing  nineteen  tons  apiece,  each 


THE    GREAT    FERRIS    WHEEL. 


larger  than  the  ordinary  railroad  coach  and  with  a  seating  capacity  of 
sixty  persons.  Imagine  this  great  wheel,  with  its  living  freight  to  a 
total  of  2,160  souls  slowly  revolving.  Imagine  the  sensation  of  being 
carried  up  260  feet  on  one  side  and  being  lowered  on  the  other,  and  of 


SIGHTS   ALONG   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE.  653 

gaining  during  the  trip  a  complete  view  of  the  Fair  grounds,  and  of  a 
goodly  portion  of  Lake  Michigan  to  boot.  That  is  the  idea  of  the 
Ferris  wheel  in  a  nut-shell. 

The  great  axle  is  the  largest  piece  of  steel  ever  forged.  It  is  33  inches 
in  diameter,  45  1-6  feet  long,  and  weighs  fifty-six  tons.  Its  cost  was 
$35,000.  This  great  axle,  which  carries  the  entire  wheel,  is  supported 
by  means  of  two  steel  towers,  137  feet  high,  5  feet  square  at  the  top, 
and  50x40  feet  at  the  bottom.  The  towers  are  each  supported  by  four 
legs,  two  vertical  and  two  inclined,  connected  at  the  base  by  eight  huge 
portal  struts,  thus  forming  an  almost  solid  arch  of  steel  60  feet  long,  8 
feet  high  and  2  inches  in  thickness,  the  largest  struts  ever  turned  out. 
The  foundations  of  masonry  beneath  the  tower  taper  from  an  immense 
base  to  a  height  of  18  feet,  and  under  this  are  piles  and  concrete  going 
35  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  ground.  Thus  the  weight  is  distributed 
so  that  under  maximum  conditions  it  can  not  exceed  a  ton  to  the  square 

foot. 

Enormous  Weight. 

The  total  weight  of  the  structure  is  4,300  tons,  60  per  cent,  of  which 
is  in  motion  under  the  control  of  the  machinery.  Notwithstanding 
this  tremendous  weight,  however,  so  liberal  an  allowance  has  been 
figured  for  wind  stresses  in  all  directions  that  a  tornado  of  100  miles 
an  hour,  would,  in  the  judgment  of  eminent  engineers,  leave  the 
Ferris  wheel  intact  and  unharmed.  Arranged  in  groups  on  the  rods 
around  the  crown  of  the  wheel  are  3,000  incandescent  lights  of  various 
colors.  These  are  alternately  extinguished  and  relighted  as  the  wheel 
revolves. 

The  landing  platforms  are  located  on  both  sides  of  the  lower  part  of 
the  wheel,  so  that  six  cars  can  be  loaded  and  unloaded  simultaneously. 
The  time  required  for  one  complete  trip  is  20  minutes,  which  gives  the 
passengers  two  complete  revolutions  of  the  wheel.  The  distance  trav- 
eled is  one-third  of  a  mile. 

How  the  Wheel  is  Revolved. 

The  engines  which  revolve  this  mighty  structure  are  in  themselves  an 
object  of  interest.  They  consist  of  two  link  motion  reversible  engines, 
of  thirty  inch  bore,  four  foot  stroke,  and  2,000  horse  power.  They 
drive  through  a  double  system  of  cog  wheels,  one  on  each  side  of  the 
wheel,  which  are  respectively  twelve,  fourteen  and  sixteen  feet  in  diam- 
eter, and  around  which  passes  a  ponderous  chain,  or  rather  series  of 
chains,  each  link  being  two  feet  long,  five  inches  wide,  and  one  and  one- 
half  inches  in  thickness,  with  thirty-six  links  to  a  chain, 


664 


SIGHTS   ALONG   MIDWAY    PLAISANCE. 


This  chain  connects  with  a  huge  cast-steel  rack  attached  to  the  main 
axle,  and  by  this  motion  the  entire  wheel  is  revolved.  The  machinery 
is  sunk  five  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  ground  and  surrounded  by  a 
railed-off  walk,  and  its  operations  can  therefore  be  viewed  by  the  spec- 
tators. The  engine  plant  is  duplicated,  so  that  in  case  of  any  disar- 
rangement of  the  machinery  the  second  plant  could  be  started  with  not 
more  than  a  minute's  delay.  The  steam  power  plant  and  the  dynamo 


VIEW    IN    MIDWAY   PLAISANCE. 

for  electric  lighting  are  located  outside  of  the  grounds,  600  feet  distant, 
in  order  that  the  passengers  may  not  be  annoyed  by  smoke  or  smell. 

How  to  Get  on  Board. 

It  is  arranged  to  empty  and  refill  six  cars  with  passengers  at  a  time^ 
so  that  there  are  six  stops  in  every  revolution.  Accordingly  six  railed 
platforms  of  varying  heights  are  provided  on  the  north  side  of  the 
wheel  and  six  more,  corresponding  with  these,  on  the  south  side  of  it. 
When  the  wheel  stops  each  of  the  six  lowest  cars  has  a  platform  at 
each  of  its  doors.  The  passengers  step  out  of  the  south  doors  and 
other  passengers  step  in  at  the  north  doors.  Then  the  next  six  cars  are 
served  the  same  way,  and  the  next  and  next  all  day  and  perhaps  all 
night.  Passengers  remain  on  board  during  two  revolutions  and  pay 
fifty  cents  for  their  fun. 

When  the  immense  Ferris  wheel  was  opened  to  the  public  and  began 
its  ponderous  revolutions  2,000  invited  guests  enjoyed  the  novel  sensa- 


SIGHTS   ALONG   MIDWAY    PLAISANCE.  655 

tion  of  a  ride  skyward,  attended  by  magnificent  views  of  the  Fair,  of 
the  city  of  Chicago,  and  the  surrounding  country  and  the  adjacent  lake. 
The  fears  of  the  timid  were  overcome  when  they  saw  the  solid  appear- 
ance of  the  structure  and  the  ease  with  which  the  revolutions  were 
made.  The  company  was  selected  from  the  World's  Fair  officials,  the 
representatives  of  foreign  countries,  members  of  the  Press  Association, 
and  included  many  distinguished  persons  from  the  various  States  of  the 
Union.  The  occasion  was  one  of  great  interest,  and  the  universal  ver- 
dict was  that  the  far-famed  Ferris  wheel  is  a  complete  success. 

This  trial  trip  demonstrated  the  superb  engineering  work  of  the  in- 
ventor and  builder.  Except  for  the  fact  that  nothing  in  the  way  of 
applied  power  and  intricate  machinery  seems  impossible,  it  would  have 
staggered  the  average  mind  to  admit  that  the  Ferris  wheel  could  be 
other  than  a  stupendous  failure ;  but  it  is  one  of  the  most  curious  as 
well  as  successful  features  of  the  great  Exposition 

The  Irish  Village. 

Largely  through  the  perseverance  and  business  tact  shown  by  Lady 
Aberdeen  the  Irish  Industries  Association  is  able  to  make  at  the  Ex- 
position a  fine  exhibit  of  the  handiwork  done  by  Irish  men  and  women. 
Lady  Aberdeen  is  the  president  of  this  association,  formed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  improving  the  condition  of  the  Irish  people  at  home  in  the  best 
possible  way — that  of  helping  them  to  secure  a  market  for  the  produce 
of  their  ships  and  looms  and  encouraging  them  to  do  more  artistic  work 
and  in  an  easier  way,  so  that  with  a  market  found  near  them  and  with 
improved  facilities  for  supplying  it  they  could  earn  the  means  of  living 
more  comfortably  and  independently. 

The  exhibit  is  located  in  the  southeastern  corner  of  Midway  Plaisance, 
the  village  being  built  around  a  reproduction  of  Blarney  Castle.  This 
is  two-thirds  the  size  of  the  original  and  an  exact  reproduction,  includ- 
ing the  famous  old  stone,  the  kissing  of  which  is  supposed  to  endow 
people  with  the  gift  of  gab. 

Around  the  transplanted  Blarney  Castle  there  is  a  square  of  cottages, 
most  of  which  are  occupied  by  the  men  and  girls  brought  by  Lady 
Aberdeen  to  illustrate  the  industries  of  Ireland.  The  central  figure  in 
the  group  of  cottages  is  the  one  occupied  by  Lady  Aberdeen  as  an 
office,  with  the  upper  story  fitted  up  much  the  same  as  a  farm  house  in 
the  more  prosperous  farming  districts.  In  these  rooms  of  the  second 
story  she  receives  her  guests, 


656 


SIGHTS   ALONG   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE. 


Illustrating  Irish  Industries. 

The  different  cottages  are  all  used  to  illustrate  some  kind  of  work 
that  is  being  encouraged  and  developed  among  the  people  of  the 
country,  for  instance,  in  one  cottage  four  laceworkers  are  seen,  each 
representing  a  different  part  of  the  country  and  making  different  kinds 
of  lace.  One  of  the  girls  makes  needle  point-lace  as  it  is  made  in 
Youghal,  another  from  Limerick  makes  lace  as  it  is  made  in  that  county, 
the  third  illustrates  the  method  of  crochet  work  as  done  in  County 


THE    IRISH   VILLAGE. 

Clones,  and  the  fourth  girl  is  from  Carrick  ma  Cross,  and  the  work  that 
she  does  is  of  the  kind  for  which  that  part  of  Ireland  is  famous. 

In  another  cottage  there  is  a  weaver  from  County  Carrick  and  a  spin- 
ner from  Donegal.  They  show  each  detail  of  the  process  of  making 
homespun  from  the  carding  of  the  wool  to  the  finishing  of  the  product. 
The  North  of  Ireland  is  famous  for  the  embroidery  that  the  girls  make, 
and  in  one  of  the  cottages  the  methods  of  making  this  work  are  shown 
by  a  girl  from  the  Valentia  Island  and  a  girl  from  County  Kerry.  The 
Valentia  Island  girl  and  a  girl  who  runs  a  spinning  loom  and  comes 
from  County  Donegal  speak  Irish  fluently,  a  rare  accomplishment  of 
which  they  are  very  proud. 

Pupils  from    a    Dairy    School. 
A  detachment  of  girls  from  the  Munster  dairy  school   illustrates   the 


SIGHTS  ALONG   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE.  657 

way  of  making  butter,  both  as  it  is  now  conducted  and  as  it  was  carried 
on  fifty  years  ago.  Six  little  long-haired  cows  from  Kerry  were  brought 
over  to  supply  this  model  dairy  with  a  part  of  the  milk,  if  not  all,  that 
was  needed.  The  cows  have  to  be  kept  outside  of  the  grounds,  but  the 
milk  is  brought  in  twice  a  day  and  the  butter  manufactured  in  this 
dairy. 

Photographs  of  famous  scenes  in  Ireland,  also  an  immense  number  of 
general  views  taken  in  all  parts  of  that  country,  are  shown  and  offered 
for  sale.  A  woodcarver  from  Blessingbourne,  Limerick,  has  been  sent 
as  the  representative  of  the  Home  Arts  and  Industries  Association  of 
Ireland.  He  has  a  room  in  which  he  does  his  work,  where  visitors  can 
see  it,  and  it  is  offered  for  sale  by  a  pretty  Irish  girl  at  an  adjoining 
counter.  Another  variety  of  wood  carving  is  done  by  a  bog-oak  carver 
from  Dublin,  who  makes  some  very  pretty  things. 

May  Kiss  the  Blarney  Stone. 

A  winding  stairway  leads  to  the  roof  of  the  reproduction  of  Blarney 
Castle,  and  there  the  visitor  finds  a  large  profile  map  of  Ireland,  done  in 
some  kind  of  plaster,  with  the  lakes  and  rivers,  etc.,  all  outlined.  This 
work  was  constructed  under  the  direction  of  T.  W.  Conway,  B.  A.,  of 
Dublin  university.  It  is  from  this  point,  on  top  of  the  castle,  that  peo- 
ple are  lowered  to  enable  them  to  kiss  the  famous  Blarney  stone.  It  is 
a  stone  lighter  in  color  than  the  others,  about  three  feet  long  and  one 
foot  wide,  set  into  the  wall  like  any  of  the  others.  Sir  George  Colthurst, 
the  owner  of  Blarney  Castle,  sent  some  of  the  original  stone  to  Lady 
Aberdeen.  Thousands  of  tourists  have  made  an  effort,  which  they  sup- 
posed was  successful,  to  kiss  the  Blarney  stone,  but  in  reality  they  have 
only  kissed  a  sort  of  understudy  for  the  famous  conversational  rock,  for 
the  original  is  in  a  place  where  it  is  so  difficult  to  reach  that  but  few 
have  ever  succeeded  in  kissing  it. 

A  Sacred  Relic. 

Not  since  the  day  when  Cromwell's  cannon  disturbed  this  historic 
stone  has  it  been  moved  from  its  resting  place.  It  was  during  the  fiercest 
firing  of  the  fight  that  a  shot  dislodged  the  stone  from  the  battlements. 
The  tide  of  battle  turned  there  and  then.  What  before  looked  like  a 
woeful  rout  of  Irish  soldiers  was  turned  by  them  into  a  sweeping  vic- 
tory, and  from  that  moment  the  bullet-shattered  stone  of  Blarney  Castle 
became  sacred  to  all  the  people  of  the  emerald  isle.  This  wonderful 
stone,  made  so  familiar  by  legend  and  story  to  the  people  of  the  world, 
42 


658 


SIGHTS  ALONG   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE. 


bears  upon  its  face  an  inscription  chiseled  by  Tim  Cronin  of  days  of  old. 
It  reads : 

There  is  a  stone  that  whoever  kisses, 

O  !  never  misses  to  grow  eloquent ; 

'Tis  he  may  clamber  to  the  council  chamber, 

Or  become  a  member  of  Parliament. 

A  clever  spouter,  he'll  sure  turn  out,  or 
An  out  and  outer  to  be  let  alone, 
Don't  hope  hinder  him  or  to  bewilder  him, 
Sure  he's  a  pilgrim  from  the  Blarney  stone. 

It  is  fifteen  miles  from  the  home  of  the  blarney  stone  to   Queenstown 


VIEW    IN    MIDWAY   PLAISANCE. 

harbor.  Thousands  of  people  watched  the  departure  of  the  sacred  ro^k 
and  hundreds  of  them  pelted  it  with  hawthorn  blossoms  and  shamrock 
leaves.  The  good  old  song  of  "  Let  Erin  Remember  the  Days  of  Old  " 
rang  out  as  the  train  with  its  gayly  bedecked  stone  rolled  away  on  its 
way  to  Queenstown,  whence  the  stone  was  sent  to  Chicago. 

Points  of  Interest   in  the  Village. 

Refreshment  rooms  are  fitted  up  in  which  lunch  is  served.     In  one  of 
the  rooms  which  is  used  as  a  sort  of  bazar  all  vaiieties  of  lace,  embroid- 


SIGHTS  ALONG  MIDWAY   PLAISANCE.  659 

ery,  and  needle  work,  for  which  the  Irish  girls  are  famous,  is  offered  for 
sale.  One  article  offered  for  sale  in  this  bazar  is  a  piece  of  lace  five 
yards  long,  for  which  $2,000  has  been  refused.  This  exquisite  piece  of 
lace  work  was  made  by  five  girls  at  Convent  Poor  Clares,  Kenmare, 
County  Kerry,  from  designs  furnished  by  Lady  Aberdeen. 

In  avconcert  hall  there  is  Irish  jig  dancing,  and  the  services  of  a  tal- 
ented harpist  were  secured  to  play  in  this  department  through  the  Fair. 
The  young  lady  is  Miss  Sullivan,  a  daughter  of  A.  M.  Sullivan  and  a  niece 
of  T.  D.  Sullivan,  the  author  of  "  God  Save  Ireland."  Souvenir  jewelry 
is  made  on  the  premises  by  an  artisan  from  a  famous  Dublin  establish- 
ment and  offered  for  sale. 

The  special  object  of  this  exhibit  should  not  be  forgotten.  It  is  not  a 
commercial  enterprise  but  an  effort  to  raise  money  to  further  develop 
the  industries  of  Ireland  and  thus  improve  the  condition  of  the  people. 
All  of  the  receipts  will  be  devoted  to  this  praiseworthy  object  and  there 
are  no  salaried  attaches  of  the  village  to  absorb  the  profits. 

The  German  Village. 

Different  from  the  other  "  sideshows  "  located  on  Midway  Plaisance, 
though  among  the  latter  are  some  of  surpassing  interest,  the  German 
village,  in  a  certain  sense  and  to  a  certain  extent,  forms  part  of  the  German 
official  exhibit  at  the  World's  Fair.  For  in  two  of  the  buildings  that 
compose  this  so-called  village  are  housed  thousands  of  objects  of  price- 
less value,  which  in  their  aggregate  may  fittingly  be  described  as  a 
museum  of  inestimable  worth  and  of  unparalleled  completeness.  And 
this  portion  of  the  manifold  attractions  that  the  German  village  offers  is 
included  in  the  official  German  World's  Fair  catalogue,  and  has  been 
sent  here  at  the  suggestion  and  with  the  encouragement  of  the  German 
government. 

It  is,  therefore,  not  a  side  feature  of  the  magnificent  exhibit  which 
the  big  empire  across  the  ocean  has  sent  here  to  let  us  know  the  present 
status  of  development  in  art,  industry,  science,  technology  and  the 
trades  to  which  Germany  has  attained  under  imperial  sway,  but  it  is  an 
integral  part  of  it,  and  it  is  by  no  means  the  least  interesting  nor  the 
least  amazing  illustration  of  Germany's  progress  during  the  past  two 
decades.  Expressed  in  cold  figures,  the  market  value  of  the  thousands  of 
rare  and  beautiful  things  that  make  up  this  museum  is  $1,500,000. 

What  the  Museum  is  Composed  Of. 

This  great  German  exhibit  is  commonly  called  the  museum  of 
ethnology,  and  it  is  hpusep!  in  the  feudal  castle  and  in  the  ancient  town 


660 


SIGHTS  ALONG  MIDWAY   PLAISANCE. 


hall  (Rathhaus)  of  the  German  village.  But,  more  minutely  described, 
this  museum  is  made  up  of  four  great  collections.  One  of  these,  partly 
of  an  archaeological  and  partly  of  an  ethnological  character,  has  been 


sent  by  the  German  Ethnological  Society  of  Berlin.  It  comprises  early 
German  and  German-Roman  curiosities  (exact  reproductions  of  the 
objects  in  the  Museum  at  Berlin)  and  life-size  wax-figures  typifying  the 


661 

Teutons  of  old  and  the  Germans  of  to-day,  together  with  their  weapons, 
garb,  etc.,  all  historically  correct  down  to  the  slightest  detail. 

Another  collection  is  the  property  of  Julius  Boehler,  of  Munich, 
comprising  some  890  pieces  of  cloth,  dating  from  the  sixth  up  to  the 
eighteenth  century.  A  third  collection  is  one  of  etchings  from  the 
modest  beginning  of  that  art  to  the  acme  of  perfection,  and  with  it  has 
been  loaned  a  small  collection  of  early  masterpieces  in  oil  painting, 
some  sixty  in  all,  every  one  of  them  being  of  great  value. 

A  Masterpiece  of  Rafaelle. 

Among  those  rare  oil  paintings  is  a  famous  one  by  Rafaelle.  It  is 
wonderfully  preserved,  being  of  an  allegorical  character  and  portraying 
"  Virtue "  flanked  on  either  side  by  Diligence  and  Sloth,  with  their 
accompaniments.  The  colors  are  still  as  vivid  and  fresh  as  if  the  canvas 
dated  but  from  yesterday,  although  slight  cracks  here  and  there  testify 
to  old  age. 

The  most  wonderful,  and  by  far  the  costliest,  though,  is  the  fourth 
collection,  that  of  armor,  weapons,  knives  and  all  the  paraphernalia  of 
chivalry.  That  in  itself  is  valued  at  $700,000,  and  there  are  single 
pieces  in  it  that  are  worth  from  $5,000  to  $10,000  each.  This  particular 
collection,  filling  three  large  and  high  walls  up  to  the  ceiling,  is  the  most 
perfect  and  complete  of  its  kind  in  the  world,  and  to  every  person  of 
education,  to  every  artist  and  litterateur,  to  every  student,  and  to  every 
lover  of  history,  archaeology  and  ethnology,  this  collection  appeals  with 
particular  force.  It  has  been  arranged  with  consummate  skill,  partly  in 
large  cases  of  solid  walnut,  having  glass  doors,  so  that  a  day's  study 
may  be  pursued  with  the  greatest  ease  and  individual  profit.  Electric 
lights  have  been  put  in  all  through  this  museum,  giving  an  abundance 
of  light  during  the  evening  hours. 

Prehistoric   Relics  from  Tombs. 

The  first  two  collections  mentioned  are  under  the  special  care  of  Dr. 
Ulrich  Jahn,  of  the  German  Ethnographical  Society  of  Berlin,  and  a 
number  of  custodians  are  assisting  him.  A  fine  catalogue,  explaining 
all  the  details  of  the  whole  museum  and  arranged  so  that  the  numbers 
correspond  with  the  numbered  label  on  each  object,  materially  helps  the 
understanding.  Assistants,  though,  guide  the  visitors  and  vouchsafe 
further  explanations,  both  in  English  and  German. 

The  prehistoric  objects  in  the  ethnological  section  proper  are  exact 
reproductions  from  the  originals  in  the  Berlin  museum,  made  with  in- 
finite skill  by  Max  Fitzke,  of  that  city.  They  show  weapons,  coins,  uten- 


662 


SIGHTS  ALONG   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE 


si  Is,  ornaments,  garments,  etc.,  excavated  from  both  Roman  and  German 
tombs,  among  the  latter  being  some  of  the  so-called  "  Huenengraeber  " 

or  giants'  graves.  The  excava- 
tions were  made  especially  in 
Saxony,  Hanover,  Schleswig- 
Holstein  and  also  the  present 
Hungary,  districts  where  the 
old  Teutonic  tribes  remained  far 
less  exposed  to  Roman  influ- 
ences, and  consequently  un- 
mixed in  race  and  faithful  to 
their  own  customs  and  modes 
of  living. 

Among  the  curious  objects 
dug  up  from  these  graves  of 
2,000  or  1,500  years  ago  there 
are  swords,  lance  heads  and 
arrow  points,  buckles,  axe  heads 
and  hatchets,  hammer  heads, 
daggers  and  knives,  shields, 
helmets,  champing-  bits  from 
horses'  accoutrements,  and  or- 
naments of  a  great  variety  and 
beauty  of  design,  both  of  gold, 
silver  and  bronze,  some  studded  with  precious  stones.  Up  above,  against 
the  walls,  are  hung  complete  material  outfits  as  well,  such  as  were  worn 
by  the  semi-savage  Teutons  of  early  times,  as  those  that  made  up  the 
outer  man  in  the  pay  of  or  in  alliance  with  imperial  Rome  from  Augus- 
tus down  to 


SOME    OLD  GERMAN   FIGURES 


Lifelike   Effigies  of  Warriors. 

Standing  guard,  so  to  speak,  over  those  recovered  vestiges  of  a  long- 
forgotten  past,  there  are  lifelike  figures  of  the  warriors  that  wore  them. 
Over  there  in  the  corner,  for  example,  there  is  a  Teutonic  soldier  in 
Roman  pay  —  such  as  Rome  employed  many  legions  of  during  the  de- 
cadence of  the  empire.  This  one  is  probably  a  Vandal  or  a  Goth,  and 
in  make-up  he  has  adopted  much  from  the  Romans.  But  his  cuirass  is 
of  stout  elk  leather,  not  of  metal,  and  his  sandals  differ  from  the  Ro- 
mans, as  do  the  size  and  make  of  his  sword  and  dagger.  The  barbarian 
love  of  display,  though,  shows  itself  by  the  golden  pendant  hanging 
down  from  his  waist,  and  by  his  armlets. 


SIGHTS  ALONG   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE.  69?. 

Yonder  you  may  see  the  German  warrior  of  the  pure  type,  even  more 
sturdy  and  powerful  in  build  than  his  somewhat  Romanized  brother. 
He  represents  an  early  Frank,  about  350  A.  D.,  of  the  same  warlike  race 
that  subsequently  overthiew  Roman  rule  in  Gaul  and  founded  the 
Frankish  kingdom.  That  he  is  a  Frank  is  clearly  seen  by  the  peculiar 
feathers  and  the  colors  of  his  tunic,  by  his  sheepskin  leggins,  fastened 
on  with  red  ribbons,  and  by  the  short  trousers  made  of  the  rudely  tan- 
ned hide  of  the  stag.  Besides,  his  chief  weapon  is  the  battle-axe,  and  the 
short  dagger ;  the  sword  and  lance  are  weapons  of  secondary  impor- 
tance with  him.  His  shield,  too,  is  the  long,  oval  shield  of  the  Frank, 
Woven  of  willow  and  covered  with  thick  hide.  Then  there  are  corslets 
of  the  Roman  kind,  worn  by  the  German  mercenaries  over  a  thin  cloth 
tunic,  with  a  well-made  helmet,  but  still  the  long  heavy  German  sword. 

Sixty  Different  German  Types. 

And  then,  some  distance  away,  is  arranged  a  complete  collection  of 
life-size  wax  figures,  admirably  made  and  representing  types  of  the 
present  day  of  all  the  different  districts  and  provinces  where  the  German 
tongue  is  spoken — not  only  Germany  proper,  but  also  the  German 
provinces  of  Austria  and  the  German  part  of  Switzerland.  Although 
these  wax  figures  in  themselves  are  veritable  works  of  art,  the  faces 
having  all  the  expression  of  life,  and  the  eyes  even  looking  at  you  as  if 
instinct  with  life,  this  collection  serves  mainly  the  purpose  of  illustrat- 
ing the  existing  "  folk  costumes  "  as  worn  to-day  by  the  peasant  classes 
in  the  whole  of  Teutonland. 

And  it  is  the  costumes  which  involved  the  enormous  expense  neces- 
sary to  prepare  this  collection.  For  it  must  be  remembered  that  two 
points  of  importance  were  strictly  adhered  to — to  reproduce  these  cos- 
tumes exactly  as  they  are  worn  on  holidays  and  at  festivals  by  those 
tillers  of  the  soil,  male  and  female,  and  to  make  them  of  the  same 
material,  to  include  all  the  ornaments  and  trinkets  used  on  such  occa- 
sions. And  whoever  has  made  a  study  of  peasant  life  in  Germany  knows 
that  these  people  spend  a  great  deal  of  their  money  on  rustic  finery, 
that  many  a  dress  and  headgear  worn  by  a  rustic  belle,  be  it  by  the 
shores  of  the  Neckar  or  of  the  Spree,  exceeds  in  value  that  worn  by  one 
of  our  fashionable  dames.  Thus,  then,  these  costumes  were  neither 
easily  obtained  nor  cheaply  bought. 

Old  Garments. 

To  American  eyes  the  chief  interest  of  this  collection  lies  probably 
in  the  oddity,  the  quaintness,  the  enormous  variety  displayed  in  the 


664 


SIGHTS  ALONG   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE. 


material  and  the  cut  of  all  these  garments  and  finery.  There,  for 
instance,  stands  a  well-to-do  Dachauer  peasant  woman,  hailing  from  a 
romantic  district  in  Southern  Bavaria.  She  is  an  exact  type,  but  it  is 
hard  to  believe  for  those  who  have  never  been  in  that  region.  Her  outer 
robe  is  of  costly  silk,  so  soft  that  the  stuff  feels  like  water,  black,  with 
flowerets  of  green  and  red.  Around  her  neck  and  covering  her  bosom 
are  hung  a  score  of  necklaces,  brooches,  medals  and  pendants,  curiously 
and  artistically  fashioned  of  silver  or  gold.  But  the  oddest  thing  about 
her  costume  are  the  undergarments  she  wears — skirts  of  thick  cloth 


VIEW   IN    MIDWAY    PLAISANCE. 

stuff  and  of  brilliant  hues,  folded  and  quilted  so  many  times  that  their 
total  weight  exceeds  sixty-five  pounds.  Then  there  are  thick  woolen 
stockings  and  shoes  that  defy  any  mud  and  any  weather.  And  all  this, 
mind  you,  a  Dachauer  woman  wears  during  the  dog  days,  as  well  as  in 
midwinter,  a  veritable  martyr  to  fashion,  and  as  the  word  is  understood 
in  Dachau. 

By  far  the  most  valuable  and  instructive  part  of  this  great  museum, 
though,  is  the  collection  of  armor  and  weapons  stored  away  in  the 
adjoining  three  halls.  This,  like  the  collection  of  etchings  upstairs,  is 
the  property  of  Herr  Richard  Zschille,  municipal  councilor  of  Grossen- 
hain,  in  Saxony,  and  one  of  the  wealthiest  cloth  manufacturers  in  the 
whole  of  Germany.  Herr  Zschille  has  spent  twenty-five  years  in  accu- 


SIGHTS  ALONG   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE.  665 

mulating  this  unique  and  perfect  collection,  and  it  has  been  with  him  a 
passion  and  a  labor  of  love,  to  which  he  has  devoted  more  time  and 
pains  than  to  his  immense  business. 

Old  Vienna. 

Among  the  interesting  sights  along  Midway  Plaisance  is  a  reminder 
of  Austria.  This  is  a  reproduction  of  a  street  in  Old  Vienna.  It  was 
opened  to  the  public  with  jovial  festivities,  the  ceremony  being  attended 
by  a  large  delegation  of  the  foreign  element. 

The  scene  presented  was  a  curious  one.  With  placid  tranquillity  the 
heavy-set  Austrian  commissioners  stood  in  the  chilly  air  listening  to  the 
singing  and  speeches,  surrounded  by  carpenters  in  their  caps  and  aprons, 
each  holding  a  tankard  of  sparkling  beer,  which  was  replenished  as  often 
as  emptied.  The  cold  weather  deterred  a  large  number  of  guests  from 
attending,  but  did  not,  however,  dampen  the  ardor  of  those  who  were 
present  and  who  in  their  enthusiasm  stood  with  hats  off  and  sung  with 
a  fervor  that  convinced  the  visitors  of  their  joy  at  the  finish  of  their 
antique  street. 

The  street  contains  thirty-five  buildings,  a  city  hall,  a  church,  and 
covers  a  space  590  by  200  feet.  Many  articles  were  displayed  from  the 
windows  illustrating  the  typical  industries  of  Viennese.  At  one  squatty 
little  shop  tea  could  be  obtained,  served  from  a  majestic  Delft  teapot, 
ornamented  with  paintings  of  fat  little  shepherds  and  shepherdesses 
tending  pigs,  boats  sailing  on  the  air,  houses  built  in  clouds,  and  sundry 
other  Dutch  fantasies. 

After  healths  and  toasts  innumerable  had  been  drunk,  short  addresses 
were  made  by  Contractor  Frank  Djorup,  Architect  Emil  Bressler  and 
Herr  Von  Politschek,  the  imperial  commissioner.  These  were  heartily 
applauded  by  those  who  understood  them,  and  after  more  of  the  flowing 
bowl  the  Austrian  flag  was  run  up  amid  the  '"Hochs ! "  of  burghers, 
who  stood  with  bared  heads  in  the  chilly  winds,  and  the  street  in  old 
Vienna  was  dedicated. 

Those  present  then  made  a  tour  of  the  street  and  examined  the  shops 
where  is  shown  Vienna  wood  carving,  amber  and  meerschaum  turning, 
modeling,  engraving,  and  the  making  of  lace  embroidery  and  jewelry. 
This  finished,  the  commissioners  and  guests  left  the  village  amid  the 
cheers  of  the  workmen,  whose  labor  had  been  stayed  for  several  hours. 

Attractive  Glass  Factory. 

In  Libbey's  glass  factory  in  Midway  Plaisance  there  is  an  interpreter 
who  speaks  sixteen  languages.  One  morning  in  showing  his  visitors 


666 


SIGHTS  ALONG   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE, 


around  he  was  obliged  to  use  eight  of  them.  There  is  no  place  in  all 
the  great  Fair  where  the  sightseers  are  more  cosmopolitan  than  in  the 
glassworks.  People  of  all  nations  seem  to  have  the  same  wonder  and 


I^=A 


\ 


ENTRANCE  TO  OLD  VIENNA — MIDWAY  PLAISANCE. 

curiosity  about  the  formation  of  crystal.  Arabs,  Syrians,  Turks,  Swedes, 
Italians,  Nubians,  Germans,  and  nobody  knows  who  not,  wander  into 
the  factory  and  watch  the  different  processes  with  the  greatest  interest. 
A  strange  part  of  it  is  that  the  wildest  Arab  appears  to  understand  better 
the  art,  beauty  and  the  value  of  the  work  or  the  result  of  the  work  than 
does  the  average  American. 


SIGHTS   ALONG   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE. 


667 


The  process  of  glass  cutting  should  be  of  particular  interest  to  the 
American  housewife,  but  she  is  very  apt  to  elevate  her  nose  because  it 
is  made  "  in  America."  She  can  see  no  difference  between  this  and  her 
own  lovely  collection,  but  this  cannot  be  genuine  because  here  it  is 
being  made  at  home.  A  woman  stood  watching  for  some  time  a  skilled 
workman.  She  finally  said  : 

"  It  is  all  very  beautiful,  but  after  all  it  is  nothing  but  the  American 
make.  All  my  cut  glass  is  imported." 

The  Importation  Craze. 
And  the  dear  woman  could  not  be  made  to  understand  that  her  ex- 


LIBBY   GLASS   COMPANY'S    BUILDING. 

quisite  glass  was  just  this  and  nothing  else.  The  workmen  whose  steady 
hands  trace  the  delicate  patterns  on  the  tableware  are  all  quite  young 
men.  The  most  of  them  are  foreigners.  There  are  comparatively  few 
professional  glass  workers  among  Americans.  It  is  a  profession  that  is 
carried  down  from  generation  to  generation.  One  young  man  finished 
a  magnificent  punch  bowl  with  standards,  on  which  he  had  been  at  work 
for  two  weeks  steadily,  and  which  is  considered  a  long  time  now  with 
all  of  the  improvements  in  implements  and  wheels  for  cutting.  Its  value 
is  over  $200.  No  machinery  can  be  invented,  however,  to  relieve  the 
steady  hand  required. 

Another  great  feature  of  the  glass  exhibit  is  the  glass  cloth.  It  has  a 
silk  warp  with  spun- glass  filling.  From  it  are  made  all  the  delicate 
lampshades  which  can  be  made  in  silk. 


668  SIGHTS   ALONG   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE. 

It  is  much  handsomer  than  silk  and  correspondingly  more  expensive. 
The  lamp-shades  are  valued  at  from  $150  to  $200.  The  same  material 
at  about  $35  a  yard  is  made  into  screens  and  table  mats.  There  will  be 
a  craze  some  day  for  the  beautiful  material  and  then  it  can  be  made 
cheaper. 

Algerian   and  Tunisian   Village. 

This  consists  of  one  theatre,  seating  1,200  people;  fifty  booths  or 
bazaars,  ten  kiosks,  cafes,  concert  hall  and  a  large  bazaar ;  also  a  Kabyle 
and  Algerian  tent.  In  the  theatre  are  represented  dances  and  songs  of 
Tunis,  Algiers  and  Kabyle,  including  the  Assiiaeu  dance,  commonly 
known  as  the  torture  dance. 

In  the  shops,  or  bazaars,  are  found  goods  of  Algerian  and  Tunisian 
manufacture,  including  jewelry,  etc. ;  and  in  separate  booths  are  shown 
workmen  manufacturing  their  native  clothing,  embroideries  and  jeweled 
goods  ;  also  booths  in  which  native  arms,  daggers,  swords,  shields,  etc., 
are  for  sale.  The  Bazaar  proper  contains  a  very  choice  selection  of  rugs 
and  tapestries,  brass  work  and  goods  of  all  kinds  peculiar  to  Algiers ; 
also  an  elegant  kiosk  of  mosaic  work  manufactured  for  special  exhibit. 
In  the  booths  are  also  exhibited  a  very  extensive  line  of  native  cutlery, 
jewels  and  fancy  goods.  In  the  Tunisian  cafe  the  service  is  Tunisian, 
Tunisian  cooking,  etc.  The  entire  village  is  decorated  with  tiles  brought 
directly  from  Algiers. 

The  Kabyle  family  in  the  Kabyle  tent  spin  and  weave  and  make  na- 
tive fabrics ;  and  in  the  kiosks,  natives  manufacture  the  sweets  and  can- 
dies peculiar  to  the  Orient. 

Soudanese  Dancers. 

The  great  majority  of  those  who  inhabit  Midway  Plaisance  have  not 
come  thousands  of  miles  merely  to  add  a  picturesque  feature  to  this 
wonderful  exhibit.  Almost  all  of  them  are  professional  traveling  show- 
men, who  pitch  their  tents  in  whatever  portion  of  the  globe  offers  the 
greatest  inducement  in  hard  cash.  All  the  profuse  explanations  that 
they  are  here  by  the  special  permission  of  Sultan  this  and  Emperor  that 
are  empty  talk.  As  a  consequence  they  do  not  propose  to  let  any  op- 
portunity slip  by  which  they  may  pocket  a  coin,  be  it  small  or  large. 
The  visitor  is  free  to  admire  and  take  his  pick  of  any  of  the  manifold 
entertainments  offered  on  all  sides.  You  may  drift  into  the  Soudanese 
den  and  witness  a  dance  that  will  deprive  you  of  a  peaceful  night's 
rest  for  months  to  come.  A  Soudanese  dance  is  something  most  pow- 
erfully stimulating  and  exciting  to  the  spectator,  much  more  so  evi- 
dently than  to  the  performers  themselves. 


SIGHTS   ALONG  MIDWAY   PLAISANCE.  669 

The  Lapland  Village. 

In  sharp  contrast  to  these  exhibits  of  the  voluptuousness  of  southern 
climes  is  the  Lapland  village.  From  the  sun-scorched  sands  of  the 
African  desert  to  the  snow-swept  crags  of  the  arctic  regions  is  a  great 
step.  Yet  the  visitor  to  the  World's  Fair  may  see  some  of  the  home  life 
of  the  children  of  the  desert  side  by  side  with  that  of  the  children  from 
the  home  of  eternal  snow.  Some  enterprising  Swedish-American  con- 
cluded that  a  Lapland  settlement  would  be  as  powerful  an  attraction  as 
any  of  the  more  pretentious  rivals  and  certainly  more  unique.  He 
brought  some  twenty  or  thirty  Lapps  and  a  herd  of  their  reindeer.  One 
of  the  latter  surprised  its  owners  by  presenting  them  with  an  addition  in 
the  shape  of  a  baby  reindeer.  The  happy  mother  received  an  extra  share 
of  luscious  moss,  of  which  the  Lapps  brought  a  great  supply.  She  cele- 
brated the  event  by  shedding  one  of  her  horns,  which  is  considered  the 
correct  thing  in  well  regulated  reindeer  families  on  an  occasion  like 
this. 

The  colony  brings  a  very  complete  outfit  of  tents,  huts,  dogs,  sledges 
and  snowshoes,  as  well  as  a  large  assortment  of  articles  made  from  the 
various  parts  of  the  reindeer.  The  reindeer  is  the  Lapps,  all  in  all,  and 
it  is  truly  wonderful  to  see  the  ingenuity  which  he  exercises  in  bringing 
it  to  the  best  possible  use,  both  while  alive  and  after  its  death.  It  would 
not  be  surprising  if  these  quaint  people  should  want  to  leave  for  their 
icy  homes  long  before  the  Exposition  closes.  They  long  and  yearn  for 
the  solitude  and  peace  of  their  mountains,  and  can  never  become  accli- 
mated. 

The  Lapp  at  home  has  no  great  demands  on  the  world.  During  the 
short  winter  days  in  the  polar  circle,  in  blinding  snowstorms  and  biting 
frosts,  he  is  compelled  to  travel  for  miles  after  his  reindeer,  only  trust- 
ing that  his  thorough  knowledge  of  the  mountain  paths  will  save  him 
from  being  lost.  He  must  know  how  to  freeze  and  starve  for  days. 
He  must  be  tireless  on  his  snowshoes  to  protect  his  flock  from  being 
attacked  and  stampeded  by  the  packs  of  wolves  that  roam  among  the 
rocks.  He  must  give  up  all  the  little  comforts  that  other  civilized  races 
consider  necessaries  of  existence.  He  is  constantly  exposed  to  hard- 
ships and  danger? ,  and  performs  in  his  loneliness  deeds  of  true  greatness 
that  the  world  never  knows. 

Losing  their  Heritage. 

Like  the  Indian  in  North  America,  the  Lapps  are  forced  by  the 
settlers  farther  and  farther  toward  the  north.  Their  well-stocked  lakes 


670  SIGHTS  ALONG  MIDWAY   PLAISANCE. 

and  splendid  grazing  grounds  have  long  since  been  stolen  from  them  by 
the  unscrupulous  settlers.  To-day  the  mountain  Lapps  who  have 
always  been  nomads  are  honest,  sober  and  intelligent.  They  show  a 
strong  tendency  to  become  extinct,  but  may  yet  preserve  their  nation 
for  some  time  to  come. 

The  Lapps  with  all  their  rugged  surroundings,  are  very  fond  of  finery. 
In  the  village  they  dress  to  their  hearts'  content.  The  women  wear 
richly  ornamented  gowns  of  reindeer  skin  reaching  to  the  knees,  with 
pantalets  and  shoes  of  the  same  material.  Their  head  covering  is  a 
queer  little  bonnet  of  bright  colors  made  of  pieces  of  wool  and  silk. 
They  also  sport  belts  ornamented  with  huge  silver  or  brass  buckles. 

Female  Beauty. 

A  remarkable  display  in  the  Plaisance  is  that  of  feminine  beauty.  A 
building  has  been  put  up  and  in  it  are  installed  fifty  young  women,  who 
represent  the  style  of  face  of  various  nations  and  their  fashions  in  cos- 
tumes. They  were  got  together  by  a  Chicago  beauty  collector,  who 
spent  some  months  in  Europe  advertising  for  types  of  the  different 
races.  Minister  Lincoln,  when  the  party  were  in  Southampton,  notified 
them  that  they  were  violating  the  Contract  Labor  Law  in  coming  to 
America,  which  was  not  so,  as  Congress  exempted  the  World's  Fair  from 
the  law.  After  their  arrival  in  Chicago  all  their  costumes  were  burned 
n  a  fire  that  very  nearly  burned  them,  too.  All  these  had  to  be  dupli- 
cated, and  the  girls  sit  in  their  pavilions  and  smile  day  after  day.  The 
management  contracted  for  smiles  lasting  six  months. 

Lovesick  Romeos  linger  around  the  beauty  building  and  make  the 
air  resound  with  their  mournful  lamentations.  As  the  show  is  under 
the  management  of  the  Fair  everything  is  correct  as  far  as  chaperonage 
and  protection  from  champagne  supper  offers  are  concerned.  There  is 
a  tacit  agreement  that  none  of  the  girls  are  to  get  married  until  the  Fair 
is  over,  and  then  they  will  be  able  to  select  any  kind  of  men  they  prefer 
from  the  wild  scramble  that  will  take  place  for  their  hands. 

Captivating  Creatures  from  Many  Lands. 

It  was  thought  that  it  would  be  hard  to  get  half  a  hundred  girls — 
each  one  prettier,  in  her  own  opinion,  than  any  of  the  others — to  agree, 
but  there  have  been  no  fights  and  few  displays  of  jealousies  on  account 
of  real  or  fancied  superiorities  of  costume.  The  Vienna*  girl  is  a  musi- 
cian, and  others  have  accomplishments  as  dancers.  Russia,  Greece, 
Italy,  Germany,  France,  England,  Austria,  Bohemia,  Hungaria  and 
Chicago  are  equally  well  represented,  and  there  are  beauties  from 
different  parts  of  the  United  States, 


SIGHTS   ALONG   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE.  671 

Things  run  largely  to  eating  on  the  Plaisance.  Some  people  are 
never  really  happy  unless  they  can  use  big  words.  In  various  parts  of 
the  city  is  a  "  Spectatorium,"  a  "  Scenitorium,"  a  "  Massagorium,"  where 
massage  is  administered,  and  it  is  even  said  a  "  Peanutorium,"  where 
edible  nuts  are  displayed  on  sale.  It  is  therefore  not  surprising  to  find 
among  the  side  shows  a  "  Natatorium." 

This  institution  is  really  a  Vienna  bakery  and  restaurant,  with  a 
swimming  bath  attached  to  it,  so  as  to  give  some  excuse  for  the  use  of 
the  name.  Special  luck  it  is  said  attaches  to  all  buildings  the  names  of 
which  end  in  "  orium."  In  Chicago  the  termination  is  added  to  nouns 
to  convey  the  idea  of  immensity.  A  museumorium  means  a  big 
museum,  a  concertorium,  a  large  concert,  a  stationorium,  a  huge  railroad 
depot.  The  bakery  teaches  the  art  of  making  good  bread.  It  is  said 
by  some  people  that  good  bread  was  not  so  common  as  it  is  now  in  the 
United  States  before  the  Philadelphia  Exposition  was  held  with  its 
interesting  Vienna  bakery. 

Hanging  the  Crane. 

While  the  representatives  of  the  nations  of  three  continents  peered 
curiously  through  the  windows,  the  occupants  of  the  old  New  England 
home  in  the  Midway  celebrated  the  quaint  custom  of  the  "  hanging  of 
the  crane."  Many  were  there  to  see,  and  the  simple  little  ceremony,  so 
full  of  pleasing  memories  of  the  olden  time,  was  happily  and  successfully 
performed. 

Just  after  early  candle  light  the  young  women  and  matrons  of  the 
house  gathered  around  the  blazing  fire  snapping  cheerfully  on  the  broad 
hearth.  Led  by  Miss  Barnes,  of  Boston,  the  women,  in  quaint  old  gowns 
and  with  hair  powdered,  sang  very  sweetly  the  song  "  Hurrah  for  the 
Cloud-Capped  Hills  of  Old  New  England." 

Miss  Grant,  of  Newton,  Mass.,  then  briefly  described  the  nature  of 
the  ceremony  of  "  hanging  the  crane."  She  stated  that  it  was  in  the 
Colonial  days  the  feature  of  every  house  warming  and  the  happiest  of 
all  the  ceremonials  of  New  England.  Misses  Dollie  Pearce,  of  Chelsea, 
and  Beatrice  Guild,  of  Cambridge,  then  bore  the  crane  to  the  fireplace, 
where  it  was  hung  by  Mrs.  E.  S.  Brinton,  the  house-mother  and  origina- 
tor of  the  New  England  home  in  the  Midway,  as  well  as  the  one  which 
attracted  so  much  attention  at  the  Centennial  Exhibition  of  1876. 

After  setting  in  place  the  crane,  which  was  wreathed  with  garlands  of 
wheat,  Mrs.  Brinton  made  a  dainty  little  speech  to  her  guests.  "  Blest  be 
the  Tie  That  Binds"  was  then  sung  in  chorus.  Miss  Grant  read  Long- 
fellow's "  Hanging  of  the  Crane  "  in  the  dim  light  of  the  open  fire  and 


672 


SIGHTS   ALONG  MIDWAY   PLAISANCE. 


candles   cut   in   old-fashioned    candelabra.     Miss   Ida  Cottlew   recited 
"  The  Old  Log  Cabin."     A  collation  was  served  during  the  evening, 


NEW    ENGLAND    CEREMONY   OF   HANGING    THE    CRANE. 

which  was  closed  with  the  singing  of  "  America,"  and  the  patriotic  com- 
pany dispersed  highly  pleased  with  the  evening's  interesting  ceremony. 

Hundreds  of  Wild  Animals. 
There  was  a  great  yowling,  squeaking,  and  chattering  noise  at  the 


SIGHTS  ALONG  MIDWAY   PLAISANCE.  673 

Midway  Plaisance  and  Sixtieth  street  one  afternoon  in  April.  The  com- 
bined noises  were  uncommon.  They  arose  from  the  1,500  animals  which 
Herr  Karl  Hagenbeck  installed  in  his  animal  pavilion  on  the  Midway 
Plaisance. 

In  this  country  the  great  animal  trainer  is  known  as  Herr  Hagenbeck. 
In  Hamburg,  where  he  was  born  and  learned  the  science  of  training 
wild  animals,  he  is  called  "Onkel  Karl."  So  familiar  has  become  the 
face  of  the  man  who  can  make  lions  and  tigers  lick  his  hand  in  peace 
that  the  citizens  of  his  native  town  speak  of  him  familiarly  as  "  Karl." 
"  Uncle  Karl  "  is  only  47  years  old,  but  as  an  animal  trainer  he  has  won 
the  distinction  throughout  the  world  as  being  at  the  head  of  his  pro- 
fession. Almost  every  circus  in  America  and  Europe  has  had  its  men- 
agerie supplemented  by  animals  from  Hagenbeck's  collection. 

The  Beasts  Unloaded. 

Much  confusion  and  a  great  deal  of  excitement  prevailed  at  the 
Plaisance  when  the  animal  show  was  unloaded  from  the  car.  The  lions, 
fresh  from  Hamburg,  were  unacquainted  with  the  jostling  of  ordinary 
road  wagons,  and  when  the  cages  of  the  big  ones  were  transported 
across  the  sands  of  the  Plaisance  the  lions  roared  until  the  Japs  and 
Javanese  in  the  vicinity  dropped  their  tools  and  stared  with  much 
anxiety  at  the  wailing  load. 

It  was  in  1891  that  Herr  Hagenbeck  conceived  the  idea  of  making 
an  exhibit  at  the  World's  Fair.  For  thirty  years  he  had  properly  posed 
as  a  leading  animal  trainer  of  the  world.  He  controlled  80,000  square 
feet  of  land  in  the  heart  of  the  City  of  Hamburg,  and  on  it  he  had 
trained  the  wild  beasts  of  Africa  to  become  docile  and  mindful  of  his 
beck  and  call.  The  American  Consul  at  Hamburg  was  the  one  who 
induced  Herr  Hagenbeck  to  bring  his  show  to  America  and  exhibit  it  at 
the  World's  Fair  in  Chicago.  The  great  animal  trainer  fell  in  with  the 
arguments  of  the  Consul,  and  as  a  result  he  expended  $125,000  in 
building  a  pavilion  on  the  Midway  Plaisance.  This  pavilion  is  200  by 
200  feet,  and  the  1,500  animals  from  Germany  are  installed  therein. 

Lions  that  Ride  Horseback. 

Five  thousand  people  may  be  accommodated  on  the  seats  which  sur- 
round the  performing  arena.  This  arena  is  forty  feet  in  diameter. 
The  entire  space  is  covered  with  an  iron  cage  thirty  feet  high.  Sight- 
seers may  consequently  feel  safe,  and  no  apprehension  may  be  enter- 
tained that  the  performing  animals  will  break  beyond  the  bounds.  Not 
least  among  the  features  are  three  lions  which  have  been  trained  to  ride 
43 


674  SIGHTS  ALONG   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE, 

on  horseback.  To  teach  these  animal  not  to  sink  their  claws  in  the  sides 
of  the  horses  required  a  year's  training.  Three  different  persons  direct 
as  many  different  performances  of  the  lions.  Miss  Ella,  a  woman  in 
whom  Herr  Hagenbeck  reposes  a  great  deal  of  trust,  directs  the  per- 
formance of  the  biggest  lion  in  the  show.  Two  male  trainers  have 
charge  of  the  horseback  feats  of  the  other  lions.  Danish  horses  were 
purchased  for  the  performance,  and  they  as  well  as  the  lions  have  been 
so  well  trained  that  the  performance  moves  without  a  hitch. 

Along  with  the  lions  and  tigers  there  were  taken  into  the  Plaisance 
200  monkeys  and  at  least  i,OOO  parrots.  The  monkeys  and  the  parrots 
are  a  distinct  show  in  themselves,  and  their  performances  are  separate 
from  those  in  the  animal  arena. 

What  the  lions  and  tigers  can  do  forms  but  a  small  item  of  the  dis- 
play. Elephants,  panthers,  jaguars,  dogs,  zebras,  bears,  leopards,  pigs, 
sheep,  etc.,  form  a  part  of  the  performing  family  of  animals. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 
Strange  People  in    Midway  Plaisance. 

THERE  was  never  before  such  an   "aggregation,"  as  the  circus 
men  say,  of  side  show  wonders,  as  in  the  Midway  Plaisance, 
which,  being  600  feet  wide  as  well  as  a  mile  long,  gives  plenty 
of  elbow-room  for  the  display,  and  the  result  is  like  a  city  by 
itself.      Upon  this  are  located  the  concessions  which  are  not  operated 
strictly  as  exhibits.   In  fact  in  Midway  Plai:;r.nce  the  visitor  is  compelled  to 
pay  for  the  extra  sights  prepared  fut  his  or  her  benefit.  The  attractions  oi 
that  district  prove   strong,  and  many  feel  that  their  visit  is  not  com- 
pleted until  they  have  distributed  several  dollars  among  the  concession- 
aires.      Midway    Plaisance    might   have   been    more    properly  named 
"  World's  Amusement  Center." 

In  Midway  Plaisance  the  Chinese  contortionist  will  for  a  small  sum 
tie  himself  into  a  double  bow-knot  while  an  almond-eyed  magician  is 
performing  tricks  that  smack  of  the  black  art.  There  are  priests  and 
actors  from  Japan,  Nautch  girls  from  Johore,  dancers  from  Java,  jugglers 
from  India,  and  wise  men  from  Cairo.  Besides  these  attractions  there 
are  various  manufacturing  industries  showing  interesting  processes  of 
making  peculiar  articles. 

Singular  Forms   of    Worship. 

Perhaps  the  average  visitor  to  Midway  Plaisance  gives  little  thought 
to  the  theological  features  of  the  panoramic  view  there  unfolded.  With 
incurious  eyes  he  may  glance  at  the  tapering  minaret  rising  above  the 
mosque  in  the  street  of  Cairo  and  smile  at  the  spectacle  of  the  muezzin 
calling  the  faithful  to  prayers,  but  he  is  not  likely  to  spend  much  time 
in  analyzing  the  religions  of  the  different  peoples  centering  there  from 
all  parts  of  the  globe,  for  that  is  a  question  he  has  not  come  to  Chicago 
to  consider. 

And  yet  it  is  one  full  of  interest  to  laymen  as  well  as  theologians. 
With  Chinese,  Japanese,  Cingalese,  Javanese,  Soudanese,  Turks,  Arabs, 
Nubians,  Algerians,  Syrians,  Persians,  Burmese,  Fijians,  Samoans,  Kan- 
akas, Dahomeyans,  Bedouins,  Siamese,  Austrians,  Germans,  Irish  and 
aboriginal  Americans  congregated  in  a  strip  of  land  barely  eighty  acres 
in  extent,  having  among  them  many  devout  followers  of  their  own  par- 

675 


676  STRANGE   PEOPLE  IN   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE. 

ticular  creed,  it  is  worth  more  than  a  hasty  reflection  to  consider  the 
various  forms  of  worship  indulged  in  by  the  occupants  of  the  Plaisance. 

With  the  Chinese  joss  house  Americans  are  more  or  less  familiar,  par- 
ticularly those  who  have  visited  San  Francisco.  On  Midway  there  is 
erected  a  miniature  temple  where  idols  galore  are  installed, before  whose 
hideous  faces  the  devout  Celestial  may  prostrate  himself  to  his  heart's 
delight.  Whether  this  joss  house  be  dedicated  to  Confucius,  taoism  or 
buddhism  is  not  apparent,  but  from  the  number  and  size  of  the  idols 
contained  in  the  temple  it  is  probably  consecrated  to  the  Chinese  Bud- 
dha or  Fo.  As  a  matter  of  fact  the  Chinese  religion  is  an  admixture 
of  Confucianism,  taoism  and  buddhism,  the  teachings  of  all  three  being 
so  inextricably  mixed  that  it  is  hard  to  find  a  simon-pure  member  of  any 
one  sect. 

The  system  advanced  by  Confucius  was  more  properly  a  theory  of 
ethical  and  political  philosophy  than  a  religion.  The  five  cardinal  vir- 
tues, according  to  his  teachings,  are  benevolence,  righteousness,  polite- 
ness, wisdom  and  truth.  He  recognizes  no  supreme  being,  hence  his 
adherents  are  generally  regarded  as  materialists  and  atheists.  The  works 
of  Confucius  have  been  the  primers  of  schools  and  the  text-books  of 
academies  for  ages. 

Made  a    Joss    House. 

The  taoists  are  mong  the  grossest  idolaters  in  China.  The  founder 
of  the  sect  is  alleged  to  have  been  a  contemporary  of  Confucius,  an 
eminent  sage  of  retired  and  austere  habits  who  devoted  himself  to  con- 
templation and  acts  of  self-denial.  The  fundamental  teachings  of  the 
sage  were  comprised  in  three  great  qualities — viz.,  affection,  frugality 
and  humility,  forming  in  their  combination  a  perfect  man.  But  the  dis- 
ciples of  this  school  have  long  departed  from  the  simplicity  of  Lao-tse's 
philosophy,  until  now  their  idols  are  very  numerous. 

The  one  most  worshiped  by  the  masses  is  "  Yu  Hwang  Shanghti,"  or 
the  Pearly  Imperial  Ruler  on  High.  It  is  this  image  that  is  seen  in  the 
joss  house  on  Midway  sandwiched  in  between  two  buddhist  gods.  There 
is  very  little  rivalry  between  the  different  sects,  and  buddhist  and  taoist 
priests  willingly  set  up  each  other's  idols  in  their  temples  if  they  can 
thereby  attract  worshipers,  and  so  increase  their  profits.  The  forms  and 
religious  rites  of  the  taoist  now  bear  a  great  resemblance  to  those  of 
the  Chinese  buddhists.  In  addition  to  the  three  sects  already  named, 
Mohammedanism  flourishes  extensively  in  the  northern  provinces  of 
China. 


JOSS    AND    HIS    SUPPORTERS. 


677 


078  STRANGE   PEOPLE   IN    MIDWAY    PLAISANCE. 

Offerings  of   Roses   and   Teas. 

In  the  joss  ..ouse  at  Midway  are  placed  many  curious  articles,  all  of 
which  are  connected  in  some  way  with  the  worship  of  the  gods  and  are 
illustrative  of  the  superstitions  of  the  people.  In  front  of  the  platform 
facing  the  pearly  ruler  of  the  universe  are  two  colored  vases,  filled  with 
huge  artificial  roses,  a  tribute  to  Shangti's  keen  sense  of  smell.  There 
are  also  cups  of  tea  for  him  to  drink,  several  calabashes  of  water  to  use 
in  making  his  toilet  and  many  other  offerings  which  have  been  pre- 
sented to  the  bewhiskered  image.  Numerous  inscriptions  adorn  the 
sides  and  background  of  the  dais  upon  which  the  great  god  sits,  all  of 
which  are  prayers  to  or  panegyrics  of  the  idol.  There  are  lions  and 
griffins  to  guard  the  doors  and  to  watch  beside  the  shrines  ;  tiny  figures 
in  wood  and  clay,  and  lanterns  of  many  fantastic  forms,  the  whole  illus- 
trating some  passages  of  ancient  Chinese  history.  A  visitor  to  Midway 
must  not  neglect  to  see  the  interior  of  this  miniature  temple. 

The  members  of  the  little  Chinese  colony  in  the  Midway  Plaisance 
are  always  so  busily  engaged  at  the  times  when  they  are  seen  by  ordi- 
nary visitors  that  it  might  be  believed  that  they  are  forever  busy  and  never 
indulge  in  hours  of  recreation.  Such  hours  they  have  and  amusements 
and  games  as  well ;  amusements  and  games  that  have  become  so  conven- 
tionalized through  the  centuries  of  their  national  life  that,  whether  orig- 
inated by  them  or  borrowed  from  other  peoples,  have  become  so  thor- 
oughly identified  with  China  that  it  would  appear  that  China  is  the  place 
where  most  of  the  world's  sports  and  amusements,  as  well  as  its  useful 
inventions,  have  had  their  origin. 

The  Ancient  Game  of  Chess. 

The  private  life  of  the  Chinese,  even  in  the  matter  of  their  games  and 
amusements,  is  not  a  thing  which  they  reveal  intentionally,  so  that  while 
one  might  happen  upon  two  spectacled  old  gentlemen  sitting  over  a 
chess  board  in  the  remote  precincts  of  the  temple  and  tea-house,  or  hear 
the  noisy  clatter  of  wooden  dominoes  of  the  laborers  at  play  in  one  of 
the  sleeping-rooms,  it  is  not  here  that  Chinese  games  can  be  adequately 
studied.  Facilities  for  the  examination  and  comparison  of  almost  all 
the  principal  games  of  the  world  are  afforded,  however,  by  Prof.  Putnam 
in  the  Anthropological  Building,  and  the  collection  of  Chinese  games  in 
this  curious  historical  series  is  complete. 

Chess,  the  invention  of  which  has  been  attributed  to  the  Chinese,  is 
found  here  in  their  remarkable  board  and  men.  The  circular  disks 
inscribed  with  the  names  of  the  pieces  march  across  a  board  upon  which 
a  river  separates  the  opposing  pieces.  Like  the  Indian  game  from  which 


STRANGE   PEOPLE    IN   MIDWAY    PLA1SANCE. 


679 


it  was  long  since  borrowed,  it  is  a  game  of  war,  with  "  Generals  "  instead 
of  Shahs  or  Kings.  The  lumbering  elephants  who  can't  cross  the  river 
flank  the  camp,  while  ballistas  or  cannons,  that  shoot  over  an  inter- 


FESTIVITIES   IN   THE   CHINESE  JOSS   HOUSE. 

mediate  piece,  are  protected  by  an  advance  line  of  soldiers.  Chess 
represents  scholarly  taste  and  elegant  leisure  in  China,  and  while  the 
laborers  in  the  laundries  in  our  cities  may  be  familiar  with  the  moves, 
it  is  the  game  of  men  of  letters,  and  is  well  suited  to  the  proverbial 
acuteness  of  the  Oriental  mind. 


680 


STRANGE   PEOPLE    IN   MIDWAY    PLAISANCE. 


In  the  Chinese  Theatre. 

Charming  hospitality — common  enough  in  the  Orient,  but  noticeable 
in  the  Occident,  unless  used  as  a  means  to  attain  an  end — marked  the 
opening  of  the  Chinese  theatre  on  Midway  Plaisance. 

It  was  not  a  public  performance,  but  an  imitation  affair  to  which  a 
couple  of  hundred  of  the  Celestial  residents  of  Chicago  were  bidden  to 
participate  in  the  festival  incident  to  the  opening  of  the  theatre,  joss 
house,  and  tea  garden.  Of  the  American  and  European  guests  there 
were  about  fifty.  During  the  afternoon  the  guests  were  entertained  in 


CHINESE    THEATRE    AND   JOSS    HOUSE. 

the  joss  house  and  tea  garden.  That  beverage  which  "  cheers  but  not 
inebriates  "  was  served  in  dainty  cups  of  delicate  tinted  china,  cups  that 
seemed  fragile  as  an  egg-shell,  and  were  decorated  with  serene  looking 
mandarins  drinking  tea  in  bowers  of  roses  and  chrysanthemums. 

The  theatrical  part  of  the  programme  began  at  4  o'clock,  when  the 
Chinese  orchestra  called  the  crowd  to  the  theatre  in  which  the  native 
troupe  was  about  to  begin  their  initial  performance.  The  programme 
was  in  the  nature  of  an  experiment.  Four  plays  were  presented,  in  the 
hour  and  a  half  during  which  the  play,  or  combination  of  plays,  lasted. 
Parts  of  this  quartet  of  plays  were  presented  in  order  that  the  audience 
might  express  its  opinion  to  the  management  as  to  which  of  them  would 
be  most  likely  to  please  an  audience  of  Americans,  and  prove  to  be  a 
star  performance  and  paying  attraction. 


STRANGE   PEOPLE   IN   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE.  681 

Plays  that  Last  for  Months. 

It  is  a  formidable  undertaking  to  describe  a  Chinese  play.  In  the 
original  play  the  Celestial  drama  runs  through  several  months  of  a 
theatrical  engagement,  but  in  deference  to  the  characteristic  hurriedness 
of  American  institutions,  the  plays  were  skeletonized  and  reduced  to  a 
mere  synopsis.  One  feature  was  the  music — so  called.  An  orchestra 
of  eight  was  responsible  for  the  molesting  of  the  air.  Two  gongs,  two 
drums,  two  plaintive  and  primitive  violins,  and  two  sets  of  badly  bruised 
cymbals  made  up  what  might  be  called  the  tout  ensemble  of  the  band. 
The  men  who  collided  with  cymbals  were  athletes.  First  one  and  then 
the  other  would  land  on  the  cymbals  with  the  result  of  a  crash  which 
echoed  through  the  theatre  and  produced  vibrations  in  the  furniture. 
The  players  were  dressed  in  magnificent  robes,  and  most  of  the  perfor- 
mance was  in  the  nature  of  a  pantomime. 

Without  waiting  for  the  end  of  the  performance  the  American  portion 
of  the  audience  adjourned'  to  the  tea-room  where  an  excellent  supper 
was  served.  First  there  was  bird's-nest  soup  in  bowls  of  daintiest  china. 
Then  came  successively  the  courses  of  an  excellent  dinner  all  served  by 
Chinese  servants  and  the  result  of  a  good  cook's  best  effort.  Rice  wine 
was  served  after  the  soup  and  other  fluids  less  robust  during  the  pro- 
gress of  the  meal. 

Amazons  of  Dahomey. 

Sixty-eight  chattering  and  shivering  people  from  that  turbulent  king- 
dom of  Dahomey,  where  the  women  fight  with  all  the  blind  valor  of 
the  men,  tramped  up  Midway  Plaisance  early  in  the  afternoon  of  May 
3d.  They  came  at  a  time  when  the  broad,  white  street  was  crowded  with 
people  and  when  the  workmen  were  at  their  noonday  meal.  The  men 
were  stalwart  black  fellows,  with  scarified  cheeks,  crisp  kinky  hair,  and 
legs  that  glistened  like  their  faces.  Each  of  them  was  wrapped  in  a 
blue-hooded  overcoat  with  the  frog  buttons  of  the  regular  army.  Their 
baggage  rested  upon  their  heads.  Some  of  them  toted  big  trunks  in 
this  way,  while  others  carried  aloft  baskets  filled  with  clothing  and 
bundles  of  clothing  and  food. 

The  women  were  so  well  clothed  that  they  could  not  be  distinguished 
from  the  men.  Yet  there  were  amazons  in  the  straggling  procession 
who  had  turned  their  rifles  loose  upon  the  French  invaders  and  whose 
heads  were  shaved  and  seamed  by  a  knife  as  a  sort  of  badge  of  humili- 
ation and  subjection.  They  were  the  flower  of  the  valorous  hosts  of 
Dahomey,  and  not  a  few  of  them  were  abxe  to  tell  of  savage  deeds  that 
would  chill  one's  blood. 


STRANGE   PEOPLE   IN   MIDWAY    PLAISANCE. 


Barbarians  from  Atrica. 

It  was  a  strange  spectacle — this  procession  of  barbarians  tramping 
past  the  flags  of  Germany,  Switzerland,  Ireland,  Turkey  and  Austria 
with  bands  of  music  roaring  from  half  a  dozen  stands.  The  poor 
creatures  were  plainly  scared  when  they  started  on  the  long  march  from 
Sixtieth  street  to  their  park;  but  their  fear  was  painfully  pitiful  when  of  a 
sudden  a  fire  engine  bore  down  upon  them  with  plunging  horses  and  a 
clanging  gong.  They  trembled  with  fear,  and  many  of  them  would 
have  been  knocked  down  and  run  over  if  guards  had  not  rushed  into 
the  roadway  and  dragged  them  to  either  side. 


VIEW     IN    MIDWAY    PLAISANCE. 

One  poor  fellow  in  a  sedan  chair  was  sick  and  in  a  wretched  condition. 
He  howled  and  beat  upon  the  windows,  but  the  Turks,  who  had  been 
hired  to  lug  him  to  his  hut,  appeared  to  be  as  badly  frightened  as  him- 
self. They  were  on  the  point  of  dropping  their  burden  there  and  then , 
but  a  guard  who  came  tearing  down  the  street  yanked  the  Turks  and 
their  terrified  passenger  out  of  harm's  way  just  as  the  engine  swept 
past  on  its  way  to  a  fire. 

Features  of  the  Dahomeyan  Show. 

The  Dahomeyans  have  an  interesting  village.  They  sing  their  war 
songs,  give  exhibitions  of  their  methods  of  fighting,  and  show  their 
artisans  at  work  in  various  branches  of  industry.  Perched  upon  the 
gates  are  sentinels  in  full  war  regalia,  their  spears  glistening  above  the 


STRANGE  PEOPLE  IN   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE.  683 

heads  of  spectators  in  the  street  below.  Dahomey  is  still  in  a  state  of 
war.  King  Behanzin,  whom  the  French  have  tried  to  exterminate,  is 
still  waging  a  guerilla  warfare  against  all  invaders,  but  it  is  only  a 
question  of  a  short  time  when  this  tyrant  will  be  crushed. 

The  amazons,  who  fought  in  some  of  his  fiercest  battles,  and  who 
came  to  the  park  by  the  grace  of  the  French  government,  give  exhibi- 
tions of  their  method  of  fighting.  The  hair  of  many  of  them  is  still 
shaven  close  to  their  heads,  a  punishment  which  they  administer  to 
themselves  when  captured  in  war.  One  object  for  bringing  these 
savages  to  America  is  to  convince  them  of  the  power  of  the  whites,  and 
the  futility  of  continuing  their  campaign  against  the  French,  who  have 
killed  as  many  as  15,000  of  them  in  a  single  battle.  While  in  Paris  the 
black  fellows  were  so  appalled  by  what  they  saw  that  they  quickly 
became  as  docile  as  children.  It  is  hoped  that  when  they  return  to 
their  country  they  will  have  been  so  impressed  with  what  they  have 
seen  that  they  will  gladly  become  messengers  of  peace  to  their  country- 
men who  are  still  in  the  bush  and  fighting  with  fanatical  fury.  General 
Dodd's  famous  guide  is  in  the  party.  His  right  arm  has  been  pierced 
in  two  places  by  bullets  fired  by  his  own  people. 

From  the  South  Seas. 

Belated  visitors  on  Midway  Plaisance  heard  queer  sounds  issuing 
from  the  recesses  of  the  camp  of  the  South  Sea  islanders  shortly  after 
9  o'clock  one  evening  in  May.  So  weird  and  uncanny  were  the  noises 
that  even  the  guards,  accustomed  as  they  are  to  all  sorts  of  outlandish 
music  on  the  Plaisance,  were  rendered  uneasy,  and  several  of  the  more 
devout  Catholics  among  them  piously  crossed  their  breasts  and 
anxiously  wondered  if  any  of  the  Fijians  had  captured  a  nice,  fat 
Christian  during  the  day  and  were  preparing  to  pot  him. 

Presently  two  of  the  more  courageous  stole  under  the  rope  barrier 
and  cautiously  made  their  way  to  the  line  of  white  tents  whence  the 
creepy  notes  proceeded.  Here  they  beheld  a  curious  spectacle.  On 
the  soft  sand  in  front  of  the  tents  were  grouped  a  score  of  islanders, 
naked  save  for  a  strip  of  tapa  cloth  about  their  loins.  In  their  heads 
of  bushy  hair  were  stuck  a  collection  of  gaudily  colored,  feathery 
grasses ;  tattoo  marks  of  elaborate  design  covered  their  bodies,  and 
each  man  bore  in  his  right  hand  a  native  war  club.  Thus  equipped,  and 
to  the  rhythmic  time  beaten  by  a  squatting  Samoan  on  a  rude  drum, 
hollowed  out  of  hard,  native  wood,  the  brown-skinned  Polynesians 
gyrated  in  a  wild,  grotesque  manner,  meantime  chanting  the  melancholy 
air  that  had  created  the  consternation  on  the  Plaisance. 


684  STRANGE   PEOPLE   IN   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE. 

A  Dirge  from  the  South  Seas. 

The  Dance  is  of  Fijian  origin,  and  was  kn»wn  in  that  island  group 
long  before  Captain  Cook  made  his  voyage  of  discovery  to  the  South 
seas.  It  is  supposed  to  represent  a  war  party  returning  from  a  maraud- 
ing excursion  to  neighboring  islands,  where  many  of  their  comrades 
have  been  slain  in  battle.  The  survivors,  having  formed  a  circle  before 
the  assembled  natives  who  remained  at  home,  select  one  of  their  number 
to  tell  the  story  of  their  ill-fated  expedition.  In  a  low,  wailing  recitative 
he  depicts  the  start,  the  dash  through  the  surf,  the  arduous  rowing  in 
the  war  canoes,  and  the  arrival  at  the  island  home  of  the  enemy.  The 
story  seems  to  be  in  cantos,  with  a  sort  of  chorus  at  the  end  of  each. 
In  this  all  the  warriors  join,  but  in  addition  to  the  chant  they  portray 
the  action  of  each  successive  scene  by  vivid  gestures  with  their  hands, 
a  swaying  motion  of  body,  and  a  simultaneous  movement  of  feet  that 
accord  perfectly  with  the  tempo  and  motif  of  the  recital. 

By  turns  the  action  is  dreamy  and  dignified,  slow  and  sad,  fierce  and 
furious,  wild  and  wailing,  but  never  cheering  or  inspiring;  it  is  a  dirge 
from  first  to  last  and  depressing  to  a  degree.  Through  it  all  are  heard 
the  monotonously  metallic  notes  of  the  hardwood  drum  that  may  be 
likened  to  the  continuous  sobbing  of  the  wives  and  relatives  of  the  de- 
ceased, who  mourn  for  the  dead  warriors  that  will  never  return.  Not 
all  the  dances  and  songs  of  the  islanders  are  of  this  melancholy  descrip- 
tion, for  as  a  rule  theirs  is  a  laughter-loving  song  pregnant  with  jest 
and  light-heartedness.  The  songs  and  dances  which  the  guards  heard 
and  saw  at  this  private  rehearsal  form  part  of  a  programme  given  to  the 
public  at  each  day's  performance. 

Objects  of  Interest   in  the   Village. 

The  village  of  the  South  Sea  islanders  is  most  advantageously  located. 
It  is  right  between  Carl  Hagenbeck's  menagerie  and  the  Vienna  cafe, 
and  directly  opposite  the  Javanese  village.  A  special  object  of  interest 
to  the  left  of  the  entrance  is  a  gigantic  native  canoe,  or  taumualua,  that 
has  seen  active  service  in  Samoan  waters.  Not  a  scrap  of  iron  enters 
into  its  construction.  Everything  about  the  boat  is  of  ifilili  wood,  a  na- 
tive timber  of  reddish  color  that  is  very  prettily  marked  and  which  is 
susceptible  of  the  most  elaborate  polish.  The  taumualua  will  seat  forty 
persons  comfortably.  Twenty-two  natives  are  required  to  man  the  boat. 
When  in  action  a  warrior  is  stationed  in  the  prow,  armed  with  an  axe, 
which  he  will  toss  to  a  height  of  thirty  feet  in  the  air  while  the  canoe  is 
in  motion,  dexterously  catching  the  weapon  by  the  handle  as  it  de- 
scends, yards  ahead  of  its  starting  point. 


STRANGE  PEOPLE   IN   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE.  685 

A  Samoan  house  is  worth  studying.  The  natives  have  erected  one 
in  the  center  of  their  village.  Special  interest  attaches  to  this  South  Sea 
dwelling  in  that  it  formerly  belonged  to  Malietoa  Mataafa,  a  prince  of  the 
blood  royal  of  the  Samoan  line  of  kings  and  the  leader  of  the  natives  in 
their  revolt  against  German  domination. 

Laupepa,  the  present  king  of  the  island,  is  a  good-natured  but  rather 
weak-minded  monarch,  swayed  entirely  by  the  German  chief  justice  and 
president  of  the  council  at  Apia.  He  is  a  king  in  name  .only.  By  the 
terms  of  the  Berlin  treaty  the  people  have  a  right  to  hold  an  election  to 
choose  their  ruler,  at  stated  times,  and  when  this  election  takes  place 
Mataafa  will  undoubtedly  be  selected  to  succeed  to  the  royal  mats.  At 
present  he  is  in  seclusion  at  Malie,  a  village  several  miles  from  Apia, 
where  he  has  a  large  following.  The  house  on  Midway  Plaisance  was 
presented  by  him  to  his  great  friend,  Henry  J.  Moors,  a  white  traveler, 
who  more  than  any  other  individual  aided  the  native  chief  in  his  revolt 
against  Tamesese  and  the  German  dictatorship. 

Dedicated  to   Allah. 

The  Turkish  mosque  was  dedicated,  April  28th.  Columbus,  filled  with 
the  spirit  of  his  time,  hated  the  infidel  Saracen  with  a  deep,  unrelenting 
hate.  Here,  on  ground  consecrated  in  honor  of  Columbus  and  sancti- 
fied to  his  memory,  the  Saracen,  tinkling  with  trinkets  and  shining  in 
silver  and  gold,  pulled  oft"  his  shoes,  tip  toed  into  the  mosque,  dropped 
on  his  knees,  folded  his  arms,  bumped  his  forehead  on  the  floor,  and 
muttered  a  guttural  propitiation  to  Allah. 

High  noon  had  arrived  without  a  single  sunbeam.  The  rain  came 
down  in  spears.  Up  through  the  grotesque  Midway  Plaisance  came  the 
parade.  The  Turkish  contingent,  in  holiday  attire,  had  met  the  Ancient 
Arabic  Order  of  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  Medinah  Temple,  2,000 
strong,  at  the  Sixteenth  street  depot.  All  of  these  shriners  wore  the 
scarlet  fez,  embroidered  with  a  crescent,  and  were  looking  intensely 
Turkish. 

First  in  this  odd  army  marched  a  platoon  of  Columbian  guards,  lost 
entirely  to  admiration  because  of  the  overshadowing  attraction  behind 
them.  This  attraction  was  the  Turkish  drum-and-fife  virtuosos.  The 
Turkish  drum  is  a  wonderful  instrument;  the  Turkish  drummer  is  a 
fearful  individual.  Given  an  empty  keg  with  a  cat  'o  nine  tails  of  frozen 
gourds,  the  American  youth  can  emulate  the  best  Turkish  snare  drum- 
mer this  side  the  Bosphorus.  The  Turkish  drummer  is  entirely  inde- 
pendent ~>f  time  or  rhythm.  He  is  a  creature  of  spasms.  He  is  likely 
to  break  out  at  any  moment  and  relapse  when  least  expected.  He  made 


686 


STRANGE   PEOPLE   IN   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE. 


it  a  trifle  awkward  for  the  shriners.  They  were  actuated  by  a  conscien- 
tious desire  to  keep  step.  Once  or  twice  they  thought  they  had 
succeeded.  Then  suddenly  the  drummer  at  the  head  would  have 
another  muscular  contraction  of  the  forearms,  and  the  whole  line  would 

be  jumbled. 

Musicians  Followed. 

At  the  side  of  this  spasmodic  musician  marched  two  other  artists. 
They  played   pipes — the   kind   that  the    Pied  Piper  of  Hamlin  used. 


DEDICATING    THE    TURKISH   MOSQUE. 

They  blew  their  souls  into  these  pipes.  The  intonated  soul  of  a  Turk 
is  harrowing.  It  is  awful.  It  was  a  strange  tune  these  two  men  played. 
It  sounded  like  an  insane  man  hunting  for  the  lost  chord  on  a  piccolo. 
It  is  beyond  contradiction  that  this  band  was  the  feature  of  the  pro- 
cession. Right  after  them  came  the  standard  bearers.  There  were 
three  of  these,  bearing  the  red  flag  with  the  crescent.  They  were 
dressed  grotesquely — one  was  covered  from  head  to  foot  with  a  great 
fleece  ;  another  was  gasping  under  a  heavy  coat  of  mail  surmounted  by 


STRANGE   PEOPLE   IN   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE.  6S7 

a  sinister  looking  helmet  with  horns.  Back  of  them  came  two  bediz- 
ened Turks  carrying  great  three-pronged  standards  with  a  tuft  of  wool 
and  a  silver  crescent  at  the  point  of  each  prong. 

The  tiny  Sedan  chairs  followed,  each  wobbling  on  the  arms  of  two 
brawny,  roly-poly  Mohammedans.  Out  of  one  peered  Fakkir  Bey? 
Turkish  Commissioner ;  out  of  another  Robert  Levy,  the  Sultan's  Con- 
cessioner ;  another,  Director  L.  W.  Campbell.  Recorder  Luce,  of  the 
Medinah  Temple,  General  John  C.  Smith,  and  Dr.  Walter  A.  Stevens 
occupied  the  remaining  palanquins. 

Grotesque  Figures. 

Next  were  the  Arab  patrol,  Americans  in  full  Turkish  uniform  strug- 
gling with  their  baggy  bifurcated  pantaloons.  Then  the  nobles  of  the 
Medinah  Temple,  2,000  in  number,  and  with  them  the  visiting  nobles 
from  the  Saladin  Temple  of  Grand  Rapids,  Tripoli  Temple  of  Milwau- 
kee, El  Kahir  of  Cedar  Rapids,  Moslem  of  Detroit,  and  Muret  of 
Indianapolis. 

Right  at  this  point  the  most  gorgeous  figure  in  the  line  appeared. 
He  had  an  Eiffel  tower  hat  on  that  would  go  far  toward  furnishing  a 
jewelry  store.  He  had  six  pistols  and  eight  daggers  in  his  waist.  He 
had  a  powder  flask  hollowed  out  from  the  knee-bone  of  a  camel.  He 
had  four  rings  on  each  finger  and  three  on  each  thumb.  Every  ring 
was  an  amulet,  and  if  there  had  been  any  man  with  the  evil  eye  any- 
where about,  that  man  would  have  surely  dropped  dead  on  the  spot. 
This  remarkable,  overloaded,  jewel-laden,  amulet-guarded  individual 
was  no  other  than  Alfred  Maloni — a  dragoman  from  Smyrna. 

Inside  the  Mosque. 

When  the  200  bandy-legged  Turks,  who  wound  up  this  procession> 
filed  into  the  Turkish  village,  the  mullioned  windows  of  the  tiny 
minaret  far  above  were  flung  open.  The  dusky,  clear  cut  forehead,  the 
distended  nostrils,  the  firm  even  mouth  of  the  Muezzin,  Osin  Bey, 
appeared.  In  the  silence  that  his  figure  inspired,  the  weird  prayer,  with 
something  of  the  sweetness  of  a  Swiss  song  in  its  intonation,  floated 
down  upon  the  devout  Mohammedans  and  the  curious  Americans. 

Then,  without  warning,  the  drummer  broke  loose  again.  They  went 
up  before  the  open  doors  of  the  mosque,  beat  a  frenzied  crescendo^ 
right  about  faced  and  stalked  off,  with  the  procession  following.  At 
this  point  the  Second  Regiment  band  appeared,  and,  much  to  the  dis- 
gust of  the  Turks,  began  to  play. 

Around  the  whole  village,  harem,  bazar,  office   pavilion,  mosque,  and 


688 


STRANGE  PEOPLE  IN   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE. 


all  went  the  procession.  Then  back  to  the  mosque  again.  At  this  point 
a  wild-eyed  Moslem,  robbed  of  the  enrapturing  music  of  his  childhood, 
went  over  to  the  leader  of  the  Second  Regiment  band  and  begged  him 
to  shut  down.  He  didn't  succeed,  and  he  went  to  the  mosque  sad-eyed 


THE   EGYPTIAN   MOSQUE. 

and  pensive,  pulled  his  shoes  off  and  dumped  them  into  a  big  pile  of 
long-toed  footwear. 

A  Strange  Ceremony. 

With  all  the  rest  of  the  Turks  he  slipped  into  the  mosque  and  knelt 
down  on  the  costly  rugs.  After  all  real  Turks  were  on  their  knees, 
all  the  imitation  Turks  who  could  rushed  in  as  spectators.  The  shrine 


STRANGE  PEOPLE  IN   MIDWAY   PLAISANCE.  689 

is  a  square  booth,  hung  with  rich  tapestry.     In  this  the  muezzin  stood. 
Behind  him  was  a  row  of  thirteen  Mohammedans,  acting  as  priests. 

In  a  low  voice  the  muezzin  began  the  services.  Turning  suddenly  he 
recited  a  part  of  the  ritual  to  the  solemn  thirteen.  No  sooner  had  they 
responded  than  a  soprano  exclamation  "  Allah  "  came  from  every  Turk 
present,  and  every  forehead  went  to  the  floor.  This  ceremony  was 
repeated  several  times  and  the  mosque  was  dedicated. 

Egyptians  at  the  Fair. 

Cairo  street  is  not  an  exact  reproduction  of  any  particular  section  of 
Cairo,  but  a  general  combination  of  some  of  the  chief  architectural 
features  of  the  old  city.  The  plan  for  it  was  prepared  by  Max  Herz, 
the  architect  of  the  Khedive,  who  was  allowed  to  come  to  America  to 
assist  in  the  construction  of  the  street. 

There  is  nothing  artistic  about  the  exterior  appearance  of  Cairo  street. 
The  passer-by  on  Midway  Plaisance  looks  on  plastered  walls  and  quite 
modern  windows,  and  until  it  was  opened  formally  tried  to  peep  in 
through  a  modern  gate.  The  minaret  which  rises  skyward  in  fantastic 
and  graceful  outlines, 'the  obelisks,  and  the  strange  decorations  which 
have  been  hung  inside,  however,  offer  a  suggestion  of  something  of 
interest  within,  and  the  weird  music  which  issues  forth  is  inviting. 
Through  the  main  portal  of  the  east  end  of  the  street  the  visitor  lands 
in  a  brick  court,  and  until  he  emerges  from  an  exit,  a  block  away,  he 
is  in  the  Cairo  of  old  Egypt. 

Attractions  on  the  Street. 

It  takes  a  pretty  heartless  individual  to  get  by  the  caft,  but  if  he 
succeeds  in  dodging  all  solicitations  he  leaves  the  court  and  gazes  down 
the  street  paved  with  brick  and  faced  on  either  side  by  buildings 
modeled  after  those^said  to  be  the  most  interesting  in  all  Cairo.  The 
mosque,  which  stands  on  the  right  of  the  street,  is  a  reproduction  of 
that  of  the  Sultan  Kait  Bey,  although  the  graceful  minaret  which  is  its 
crowning  beauty  is  copied  from  the  mosque  of  that  of  Abou  Bake 
Mazhar.  The  muezzin,  Sheik  Ali,  who  has  the  care  of  the  spiritual 
welfare  of  the  Mohammedans,  who  are  in  the  majority  on  the  street,  is 
faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  and  in  the  mosque  may  generally 
be  found  a  number  of  worshipers  at  their  devotion — a  picture  of  interest 
to  the  visitors  who  are  allowed  in  the  gallery. 

44 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 
•         Progress  and  Close  of  the  Fain 

AT  the  close  of  the  Great  Exposition  it  was  the  universal  verdict 
that  the  undertaking  had  been  in  every  respect  a  complete 
success.     The  grounds,  buildings,  exhibits  and  attendance  of 
visitors  combined  to  place  the  World's  Fair  at  Chicago  at  the 
head  of  similar  exhibitions,  none  of  which  were  ever  conducted  on  so 
vast  a  scale. 

During  the  month  of  May  the  weather  was  unpropitious,  and  many  of 
the  exhibits  were  not  in  place.  With  great  energy,  however,  the  work 
of  preparation  was  pushed  forward.  With  the  advent  of  June  the  crowd 
of  visitors  began  to  pour  in,  the  numbers  increased  from  week  to  week, 
and  later  in  the  season  the  lines  of  railroads  centering  in  Chicago  were 
taxed  to  carry  the  throngs  that  came  from  all  directions. 

The  Various  Congresses. 

As  it  was  foreseen  that  people  would  be  gathered  from  all  parts  of  the 
world,  comprising  representatives  of  all  industrial,  art,  agricultural,  social 
and  religious  interests,  arrangements  were  early  made  for  holding  con- 
gresses in  which  the  leading  questions  of  the  day  should  be  discussed. 
These  became  an  important  feature  and  awakened  a  wide-spread  interest. 
Papers  were  read,  speeches  delivered,  practical  discussions  were  held, 
and  the  Fair  really  became  a  great  school  for  the  dissemination  of  ideas 
and  the  statement  of  results  already  attained. 

Special  days  were  also  appointed  for  celebration  by^  the  various  States 
and  also  by  foreign  countries.  The  more  important  of  these  are  worthy 
of  mention.  A  very  interesting  commemorative  event  was  the  re-union 
on  August  5th  of  the  early  emigrants  to  California. 

The  California  Pioneers. 

A  hundred  Argonauts,  many  bearded  like  a  patriarch,  and  most  of 
them  with  silvered  locks,  met  in  re-union  to  tell  the  wonderful  tales  of 
their  search  for  the  goldeh  fleece.  No  fabled  Jason  led  these  knightly 
men,  and  no  mythical  hardships  bestrewed  their  path.  Sorrow  and 
suffering  fell  to  the  lot  of  many  of  them,  and,  with  the  experiences  of  a 
common  enterprise  in  an  isolated  country,  bound  all  in  the  cords  of  a 
peculiarly  strong  friendship.  It  was  California  Pioneers'  Day. 
690 


PROGRESS   AND   CLOSE  OF  THE   FAIR.  691 

The  grizzled  survivors  of  the  early  days  in  the  Golden  State  swapped 
stories  of  their  adventures  with  lively  zest.  Some  sailed  around  the 
Horn  and  had  tales  of  shipwreck  and  death  to  tell.  Others  who  crossed 
the  isthmus  of  Panama  told  gruesome  stories  of  the  ravages  of  tropical 
fevers.  The  Argonauts  who  crossed  the  plains  capped  the  climax  with 
tales  of  the  awful  sufferings  of  the  Donner  and  the  Bidwell  parties. 
Adventures  by  field  and  flood,  conflicts  with  wild  savages,  the  horrors  of 
winter  travel  over  mountain  trails,  the  agonies  of  hunger  and  thirst — all 
these  were  dwelt  upon  with  the  graphic  force  of  those  who  had  seen  and 

felt  them. 

Lady  Members. 

Most  of  those  present  were  members  of  the  Western  Association  of 
California  Pioneers,  which  has  its  headquarters  in  Chicago.  Quite  a 
number  went  out  to  the  Fair  in  an  old  coach  used  by  the  Wells-Fargo 
Express  Company  in  California  twenty-eight  years  before.  At  a"  meet- 
ing in  the  California  Building  the  feminine  members  of  the  California 
Commission  were  elecfed  to  honorary  membership,  and  all  were  decked 
with  big  yellow  badges  bearing  an  illustration  of  miners  at  work  with 
pick,  pan  and  rocker. 

Alexander  Majors,  who,  with  Russell  and  Waddell,  established  the 
pony  express  to  hasten  communication  between  the  Kast  and  the  golden 
strand,  recounted  some  of  the  wonderful  feats  of  the  pony  express  riders. 
He  told  of  the  dangerous  road  from  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  to  Sacramento, 
Cal.,  2,000  miles  long.  The  service  employed  400  horses  and  sixty-five 
regular  riders,  exclusive  of  the  men  kept  in  reserve  for  emergencies. 

The  shortest  time  previously  had  been  twenty-one  days,  and  he  told 
of  the  wager  in  New  York  that  the  trip  could  not  be  made  in  eleven 
days.  The  pony  express  made  the  journey  regularly  in  ten  days  or  less. 
Buchanan's  last  message  was  carried  from  the  Missouri  to  Sacramento 
in  a  few  hours  over  eight  days.  Lincoln's  first  message  broke  the 
record  in  seven  days  and  seventeen  hours,  which  meant  250  miles  on 
horseback  every  twenty-four  hours.  These  feats  for  the  benefit  of  Argo- 
nauts were  never  equaled  in  the  history  of  the  world. 

They  Were  After  Gold. 

Benjamin  R.  Nickerson,  who  was  a  member  of  the  first  California 
Legislature,  was  too  modest  to  make  a  speech,  but  he  stood  up  so  all 
could  see  him.  Thad.  Dean  said  he  had  heard  a  great  deal  about  the 
noble  things  the  pioneers  had  accomplished.  He  never  denied  these 
glowing  panegyrics,  but  deep  down  in  his  heart  he  admitted  that  he  went 
to  California  not  to  do  noble  deeds,  but  to  fill  his  pockets. 


692  PROGRESS  AND   CLOSE  OF  THE   FAIR. 

C.  C.  Holden  told  of  the  services  of  the  soldiers  who  won  California 
by  the  war  with  Mexico.  He  went  to  the  new  Eldorado  in  1858,  dug 
gold  in  the  American  river,  and  rode  for  miles  to  San  Jose  mission 
through  mustard  ten  feet  high.  That  country  to-day  is  as  well  cultivated 
as  a  garden.  He  was  one  of  the  returned  Argonauts  who,  at  the  con- 
vention which  nominated  Lincoln  in  1860,  held  a  reunion  at  the  old 
Adams  house.  George  C.  Curtis  paid  a  tribute  to  the  men  who  rode 
into  the  halls  of  the  Montezumas  and  made  the  acquirement  of  Cali- 
fornia possible. 

And  thus,  with  their  stories  interspersed  with  music,  did  the  Argo- 
nauts of  '49  and  the  decade  following  while  away  a  delightful  afternoon. 
The  ladies  of  the  California  commission  served  dainty  refreshments,  and 
before  parting  the  pioneers  sung  "  Should  auld  acquaintance  be  forgot 
and  the  days  of  Auld  Lang  Syne  "  with  heartfelt  fervor. 

A  Royal  Visitor. 

Among  the  royal  personages  who  visited  the  Fair,  one  of  the  most 
interesting  was  the  Indian  potentate,  Rajah-i-Rajagan,  who  arrived  early 
in  August.  He  was  very  affable  and  approachable,  and  all  the  members 
of  the  party  gave  him  the  name  of  being  very  democratic  in  his  feelings. 
He  is  probably  six  feet  tall  and  weighs  in  the  neighborhood  of  two  hun- 
dred pounds.  His  dress  while  in  this  country  was  American,  except  that 
he  wore  an  immense  turban.  Around  his  dark  oval  face  was  a  short  growth 
of  black  beard,  and  a  small  moustasche  adorned  his  lip.  The  wife  who  was 
accompanying  him  was  not  so  dark  as  he.  She  was  very  slender,  and 
though  not  beautiful  had  a  very  sweet  face.  She  dressed  like  an  American 
lady.  The  Rajah  speaks  very  good  English.  "  My  time  in  this  country," 
he  said,  "  is  limited,  but  I  have  been  greatly  impressed  with  what  I  have 
seen,  and  think  it  is  a  wonderful  country." 

Au  Indulgent  Ruler. 

His  secretary,  in  speaking  of  him  later,  said  that  he  was  very  kind  to 
the  people  under  him ;  and  that  he  was  making  this  tour  simply  that  he 
might  learn  something  that  would  be  of  value  to  his  people.  He  had 
been  twice  presented  to  the  queen  and,  when  she  met  him  at  Florence, 
she  gave  him  a  special  invitation  to  visit  England. 

He  is  a  grandson  of  the  famous  Rajah  Randheer  Singh,  who  fought 
on  the  side  of  the  English  during  the  Indian  mutiny  of  1857.  His 
grandfather  fell  in  love  with  a  beautiful  English  girl  and  wanted  to  marry 
her.  To  do  so  he  proposed  to  become  a  Christian,  but  when  he  learned 
that  he  would  have  to  give  up  his  plurality  of  wives  he  changed  his  mind. 


PROGRESS   AND   CLOSE   OF   THE   FAIR.  *  693 

Khurah  Singh,  the  father  of  the  present  potentate,  died  in  1877.  A  re- 
gency was  established  by  the  English  government,  and  he  was  carefully 
trained  by  British  officers. 

The  state  over  which  the  rajah  rules  as  a  semi-independent  sovereign 
is  in  the  extreme  northern  part  of  British  India.  Its  area  is  700  square 
miles,  and  its  population  is  about  3,000.  The  maharajah,  as  he  is  some- 
times called,  pays  tithes  from  the  revenue  of  his  principality  to  the 
British  government;  but  he  owns  other  lands  almost  equal  in  area,  the 
income  of  which  all  goes  to  him. 

The  Religious  Congress. 

By  far  the  most  important  of  the  World's  Congresses  was  the  Religious 
Parliament,  which  convened  on  September  nth.  It  presented  a  spec- 
tacle that  has  never  been  equalled  in  the  history  of  the  world.  From 
the  snow-capped  mountains  of  Norway,  from  sunny  France  and  the 
German  Fatherland  came  the  representatives  of  Christianity  to  meet  in 
friendly  conference  with  the  swarthy  sons  of  India,  the  followers  of 
Islam,  the  representatives  of  Confucianism  from  China  ;  and  the  devotees 
of  Shintoism  and  Buddhism  from  the  flowery  kingdom  of  Japan.  Here 
in  the  invigorating  atmosphere  of  this  young  continent  the  learned  men 
of  these  old  Eastern  nations  came  to  exchange  confidences  with  the 
leaders  of  thought  from  Europe  and  to  shake  the  hand  and  feel  the 
heart-throb  of  the  versatile  and  practical  American  at  home. 

Suggestive  and  Picturesque. 

When  the  great  gathering  of  foreign  dignitaries  from  almost  every 
nation  and  every  religion  filed  into  the  Hall  of  Columbus,  and  every  one 
was  seated  on  the  platform,  it  suggested  a  unanimity  of  purpose  and  an 
earnestness  of  desire  to  sink  creed  and  racial  difference  and  to  get  back 
to  those  common  ties  of  humanity  that  bind  and  link  men  in  a  world- 
wide brotherhood. 

It  was  a  picturesque  as  well  as  a  solemn  and  touching  assemblage. 
The  big  oak  doors  of  the  Art  Institute  were  besieged  by  visitors  as  early 
as  9  o'clock  eager  to  secure  seats  in  the  auditorium  or  the  gallery  of 
Columbus  Hall.  When  the  doors  were  thrown  open  there  was  a  wild 
scramble  to  gain  access  to  the  body  of  the  hall,  but  only  the  little  white 
badge  of  membership  in  the  Congress  was  recognized,  and  the  less 
fortunate  people  had  to  march  upstairs. 

There  was  perfect  order,  however,  a  slimly  built  young  lady  with  a 
smiling  face  being  sufficient  to  perform  the  double  duties  of  usher  and 
policeman1  at  the  main  entrance  from  the  vestibule.  Dr.  Barrows  and 


694  PROGRESS  AND   CLOSE  OF  THE  FAIR. 

his  secretary,  Mr.  Piper,  were  early  on  hand  to  give  information  and 
receive  the  many  distinguished  visitors,  as  were  also  President  Bonney, 
Secretary  Young,  and  the  members  of  the  committee  of  organization, 

X 

An  Informal  Reception. 

About  10  o'clock  strangers  from  every  clime  began  to  arrive,  and  for 
the  next  half  hour  President  Bonney's  office  was  turned  into  a  reception 
room,  where  Chinese  in  their  mandarin's  robes  and  pigtails,  Japanese  in 
picturesque  garb  of  chaste  colors  and  varicolored  head-dresses,  Indians 
in  their  gaudy  gowns  of  red,  orange,  and  green,  Germans,  Russians,  and 
Scandinavians,  natives  of  Britain  and  her  dependencies,  and  half  a  dozen 
interpreters  mingled  and  mixed  in  a  medley  of  universal  brotherhood. 
The  fair  sex  were  there,  too,  and  they  were  not  neglected.  But  sister- 
hood in  such  a  gathering  was  superfluous.  The  air  was  full  of  brother- 
hood, and  it  was  of  the  generic  kind,  such  as  fits  both  sexes. 

Meantime  the  big  hall  filled  until  when  the  procession,  headed  by 
President  Bonney  anci  Cardinal  Gibbons,  entered  there  was  not  a  vacant 
seat  on  floor  or  in  gallery,  and  even  standing  room  was  at  a  premium. 
Following  Mr.  Bonney  and  the  cardinal  came  Mrs.  Potter  Palmer  and 
Mrs.  Charles  Henrotin.  Then  a  procession  of  bishops  and  archbishops, 
priests  and  princes,  both  by  title  and  by  right,  men  and  women  of  every 
race  and  color,  such  as  John  Bunyan  might  have  dreamed  of  or  as 
might  have  passed  Addison  in  his  vision  of  Mirza. 

Opened  with  Song. 

Clarence  Eddy,  seated  at  the  organ,  sounded  out  "  Old  Hundred  "  as 
an  opening  number,  and  the  great  audience  sang  that  song  in  fine  style. 
It  was  10.40  when  Mr.  Bonney  sounded  his  gavel  and  called  upon  Car- 
dinal Gibbons  to  lead  in  the  universal  prayer.  He  repeated  the  Lord's 
Prayer,  in  which  the  congregation,  remaining  standing,  heartily  joined. 
Then  came  President  Bonney's  address  of  welcome,  very  felicitous  and 
to  the  point.  The  address  of  the  day  was  given  by  Dr.  Barrows,  and 
it  produced  a  marked  impression.  He  spoke  as  follows : 

If  my  heart  did  not  overflow  with  cordial  welcome  at  this  hour,  which 
promises  to  be  a  great  moment  in  history,  it  would  be  because  I  had 
lost  the  spirit  of  manhood,  and  had  been  forsaken  by  the  Spirit  of  God. 
The  whitest  snow  on  the  sacred  mount  of  Japan,  the  clearest  water 
springing  from  the  sacred  fountains  of  India  are  not  more  pure  and 
bright  than  the  joy  of  my  heart,  and  of  many  hearts  here,  that  this  day 
has  dawned  in  the  annals  of  time ;  and  that  from  the  farthest  isles  of 
Asia;  from  India,  mother  of  religions;  from  Europe,  the  great  teacher  of 


PROGRESS  AND   CLOSE  OF  THE  FAIR.  695 

civilization ;  from  the  shores  on  which  breaks  "  the  long  wash  of  Aus- 
tralasian seas ;"  that  from  neighboring  lands,  and  from  all  parts  of  this 
Republic,  which  we  love  to  contemplate  as  the  land  of  earth's  brightest 
future,  you  have  come  hither  at  our  invitation  in  the  expectation  that  the 
world's  first  parliament  of  religions  must  prove  an  event  of  race-wide 
and  perpetual  significance. 

Extensive  Preparations. 

For  more  than  two  years  the  general  committee,  which  I  have  the 
honor  to  represent,  working  together  in  unbroken  harmony,  and  present- 
ing the  picture  or  prophecy  of  a  united  Christendom,  have  carried  on 
their  arduous,  and  somewhat  appalling,  task  in  happy  anticipation  of 
this  golden  hour.  Your  coming  has  constantly  been  in  our  thoughts, 
and  hopes  and  fervent  prayers.  I  rejoice  that  your  long  voyages  and 
journeys  are  over,  and  that  here,  in  this  young  capital  of  our  Western 
civilization,  you  find  men  eager  for  truth,  sympathetic  with  the  spirit  of 
universal  brotherhood,  and  loyal,  I  believe,  to  the  highest  they  know, 
glad  and  grateful  to  Almighty  God  that  they  see  your  faces  and  are  to 
hear  your  words. 

Welcome,  most  welcome,  O  wise  men  of  the  East  and  of  the  West ! 
May  the  star  which  has  led  you  hither  be  like  unto  that  luminary  which 
guided  the  men  of  old,  and  may  this  meeting  by  the  inland  sea  of  a  new 
continent  be  blessed  of  heaven  to  the  redemption  of  men  from  error 
and  prejudice,  from  sin  and  despair.  I  wish  you  to  understand  that  this 
great  undertaking,  which  has  aimed  to  house  under  one  friendly  roof,  in 
brotherly  counsel,  the  representatives  of  God's  aspiring  and  believing 
children  everywhere,  has  been  conceived  and  carried  on  through  strenu- 
ous and  patient  toil,  with  an  unfaltering  heart,  with  a  devout  faith  in 
God,  and  with  most  signal  and  special  evidences  of  His  divine  guidance 

and  favor. 

Brothers  All. 

I  am  confident  that  you  appreciate  the  peculiar  limitations  which  con- 
stitute the  peculiar  glory  of  this  assembly.  We  are  not  here  merely  as 
Baptists  and  Buddhists,  Catholics  and  Confucians,  Parsees  and  Presby- 
terians, Methodists  and  Moslems,  we  are  here  as  members  of  a  Parlia- 
ment of  Religions  over  which'  flies  no  sectarian  flag,  which  is  to  be 
stampeded  by  no  sectarian  war  cries,  but  where  for  the  first  time  in  a 
large  council  is  lifted  up  the  banner  of  love,  fellowship,  brotherhood. 
We  all  feel  that  there  is  a  spirit  which  should  always  pervade  these 
meetings,  and  if  any  one  should  offend  against  this  spirit  let  him  not  be 
rebuked  publicly  or  personally ;  your  silence  will  be  a  graver  and  severer 


696  PROGRESS  AND   CLOSE   OF   THE   FAIR. 

rebuke.  We  are  not  here  to  criticise  one  another,  but  each  to  speak  out 
positively  and  frankly  his  own  convictions  regarding  his  own  faith.  The 
great  world  outside  will  review  our  work ;  the  next  century  will  review 
it.  It  is  our  high  and  noble  business  to  make  that  work  the  best  pos- 
sible. 

There  will  be  social  gatherings  in  the  course  of  this  parliament  in 
which  we  shall  be  able  to  get  at  each  other  more  closely ;  there  will  be 
review  sections  in  the  smaller  halls,  where,  in  a  friendly  way,  through 
question,  and  answer  and  suggestion,  the  great  themes  to  be  treated  in 
the  Hall  of  Columbus  will  be  considered,  and  various  lights  thrown 
upon  them,  but  in  this  central  hall  of  the  parliament  the  general  pro- 
gramme will  be  carried  out,  and  I  trust  always  in  the  spirit  which  glows 
in  your  hearts  at  this  hour. 

Questions  Considered. 

It  is  a  great  and  wonderful  programme  that  is  to  be  spread  before  you; 
it  is  not  all  that  I  could  wish  or  had  planned  for,  but  it  is  too  large  for 
any  one  mind  to  receive  it  in  its  fullness  during  the  seventeen  days  of 
our  sessions.  Careful  and  scholarly  essays  have  been  prepared  and  sent 
in  by  great  men  of  the  old  world  and  the  new,  which  are  worthy  of  the 
most  serious  and  grateful  attention,  and  I  am  confident  that  each  one  of 
us  may  gain  enough  to  make  this  parliament  an  epoch  of  his  life.  • 

You  will  be  glad  with  me  that,  since  this  is  a  world  of  sin  and  sorrow 
as  well  as  speculation,  our  attention  is  for  several  days  to  be  given  to 
those  greatest  practical  themes  which  press  upon  good  men  everywhere. 
How  can  we  make  this  suffering  and  needy  world  less  a  home  of  grief 
and  strife,  and  far  more  a  commonwealth  of  love,  a  kingdom  of  heaven  ? 
How  can  we  abridge  the  chasms  of  alienation  which  have  kept  good 
men  from  co-operating  ?  How  can  we  bring  into  closer  fellowship  those 
who  believe  in  Christ  as  the  Saviour  of  the  world  ?  And  how  can  we 
bring  about  a  better  understanding  among  the  men  of  all  faiths  ?  I  be- 
lieve thai  a  great  light  will  be  thrown  upon  these  problems  in  the  coming 
days. 

Vast  Crowds  in  Attendance. 

The  interest  felt  in  the  Congress  was  shown  in  the  continuous  crowds 
that  for  more  than  two  weeks  attended  the  sessions.  Not  for  an  hour 
did  the  numbers  diminish,  and  if  a  hall  twice  the  size  of  that  in  the  Art 
Institute  had  been  available,  it  would  have  been  filled  with  eager  listeners. 

The  Christian  spirit  that  prevailed  throughout  was  a  matter  of  univer- 
sal comment  and  congratulation.  Each  speaker  aimed  to  inform  the 
listeners  rather  than  to  criticise  others.  All  the  sects  of  any  importance 


PROGRESS  AND  CLOSE  OF  THE  FAIR.  697 

were  represented  by  their  ablest  leaders,  and  it  was  demonstrated  that  in 
the  free  air  of  America  any  man  with  something  to  say  on  the  religions 
of  the  world  would  have  a  respectful  and  charitable  hearing. 

The  Closing  Address. 

The  great  Religious  Congress  closed  September  2/th.  When  Dr. 
Barrows  arose  to  speak  it  was  a  minute  before  the  tremendous  outburst 
of  applause  would  permit  him  to  proceed.  He  said  : 

The  closing  hour  of  this  parliament  is  one  of  congratulation,  of  tender 
sorrow,  of  triumphant  hopefulness.  God  has  been  better  to  us  by  far 
than  our  fears,  and  no  one  has  more  occasion  for  gratitude  than  your 
chairman,  that  he  has  been  upheld  and  comforted^  by  your  cordial  co- 
operation, by  the  prayers  of  a  great  host  of  God's  noblest  men  and 
women,  and  by  the  consciousness  of  divine  favor. 

Our  hopes  have  been  more  than  realized.  The  sentiment  which  in- 
spired this  parliament  has  held  us  together.  The  principles  in  accord 
with  which  this  historic  convention  has  proceeded  have  been  put  to  the 
test,  and  even  strained  at  times,  but  they  have  not  been  inadequate. 
Toleration,  brotherly  kindness,  trust  in  each  other's  sincerity,  a  candid 
and  earnest  seeking  after  the  unities  of  religion,  the  honest  purpose  of 
each  to  set  forth  his  own  faith  without  compromise  and  without 
unfriendly  criticism — these  principles,  thanks  to  their  loyalty  and 
courage,  have  not  been  found  wanting. 

The    Endless    Parliament. 

Men  of  Asia  and  Europe,  we  have  been  made  glad  by  your  coming 
and  have  been  made  wiser.  I  am  happy  that  you  have  enjoyed  our 
hospitalities.  While  floating  one  evening  over  the  illuminated  waters  of 
the  "  White  City,"  Mr.  Dharmapala  said,  with  that  smile  which  has  won 
our  hearts,  "  All  the  joys  of  heaven  are  in  Chicago,"  and  Dr.  Memerie, 
with  a  characteristic  mingling  of  enthusiasm  and  skepticism,  replied  : 
"  I  wish  I  were  sure  that  all  the  joys  of  Chicago  are  to  be  in  heaven." 
But  surely  there  will  be  a  multitude  there,  whom  no  man  can  number 
out  of  every  kindred  and  people  and  tongue,  and  in  that  perpetual  parlia- 
ment on  high  the  people  of  God  will  be  satisfied. 

We  have  learned  that  truth  is  large,  and  that  there  are  more  ways  than 
one  in  God's  providence  by  which  men  emerge  out  of  darkness  into  the 
heavenly  light.  It  was  not  along  the  line  of  any  one  sect  or  philosophy 
that  Augustine  and  Origen,  John  Henry  Newman  and  Dean  Stanley, 
Jonathan  Edwards  and  Channing,  Henry  Ward  Beecher  and  Keshub 
Chunder  Sen  walked  out  into  the  light  of  the  eternal.  The  great  high 


698  PROGRESS  AND   CLOSE  OF  THE  FAIR. 

wall  of  heaven  is  pierced  by  twelve  portals,  and  we  shall  doubtless  be 
surprised,  if  we  ever  pass  within  those  gates,  to  find  many  there  whom 
we  did  not  expect  to  see.  We  certainly  ought  to  cherish  stronger  hopes 
for  those  'who  are  pure  in  deeds,  even  though  living  in  the  twilight  of 
faith,  than  for  selfish  souls,  who  rest  down  on  a  lifeless  Christianity. 

Congress  of  Missions. 

The  Religious  Parliament  was  followed  by  a  Congress  of  Missions. 
This  met  in  Columbus  Hall,  and  the.  speakers  were  favored  with  an 
unusually  large  audience.  Mrs.  Judson  Smith  presided,  and,  after  devo- 
tional exercises,  the  first  address  was  given  by  Staff  Captain  Miss  Pattie 
Watkins,  of  the  Salvation  Army,  who  took  the  place  of  Mrs.  Ballington 
Booth,  and  told  an  interesting  story  of  the  work  done  by  the  army  in  the 
great  cities  of  America.  Miss  Watkins  is  small  of  stature  and  simple  of 
manner,  but  there  was  an  earnestness  and  pathos  in  her  brief  address 
that  enlisted  the  sympathy  of  the  audience. 

The  next  speaker  was  Mrs.  F.  J.  Willing,  of  New  York,  who  read  an 
able  and  extremely  interesting  paper  on  European  immigrants.  She 
treated  the  subject  from  a  missionary  point  of  view,  showing  the  necessity 
for  Christian  work  in  dealing  with  the  large  masses  of  foreign  people 
who  every  year  land  on  our  shores. 

Social  Problems. 

She  also  referred  to  the  problems  of  a  social  character  which  this 
inrush  of  foreign  immigration  produces,  and  in  this  connection  she  told 
the  story  of  a  police  raid  in  New  York  city,  which  found  seventy-four 
men  and  women  and  one  tiny  babe  sleeping  in  four  small  rooms.  The 
policeman  said  that  the  mother  and  babe  might  be  sent  to  the  hospital, 
and  the  other  women  might  go  to  the  island  and  do  hard  work,  but  the 
men — it  was  too  near  election  time  to  spare  them.  And  with  true 
political  sagacity  the  blue-coat  added  :  "  We  will  need  them  at  the  polls." 
The  speaker  asserted  that  it  was  the  men  from  the  dives  and  dens  who 
were  the  rulers  of  New  York  City,  and  as  New  York  City  ruled  the 
State,  and  the  State  usually  swings  the  Nation,  the  peril  to  political  insti- 
tutions from  this  class  of  foreign  immigrants  was  plain. 

As  a  remedy  for  the  evil  effects  of  unrestrained  immigration  Mrs. 
Willing  said  that  laws  should  be  enacted  prohibiting  the  landing  of 
foreign  paupers,  and  provisions  should  be  made  for  giving  all  foreigners 
a  cordial  welcome  by  Christian  friends  at  the  port  of  landing. 

The  choir  of  the  New  England  Congregational  Church  was  present, 
and  at  this  point  they  rendered  a  selection  of  sacred  music.  A  notable 


PROGRESS  AND   CLOSE   OF   THE  FAIR.  699 

contribution  to  the  Congress  was  the  address  of  Rev.  F.  F.  Ellenwood, 
D.  D.,  Secretary  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  upon 
the  subject  of"  Reflex  Influence  of  Foreign  Missions  Upon  Christendom, 
Commerce,  Science,  and  Spiritual  Life."  He  said  the  history  of  civiliza- 
tion showed  that  Christianity  was  perhaps  the  most  important  factor  in 
the  development  of  the  world. 

From  a  Commercial  Standpoint. 

As  to  the  commercial  advantages  of  missions,  he  pointed  to  the  case  of 
the  New  Hebrides,  where  the  people  were  cannibals  before  the  advent  of 
mission  work  among  them.  They  are  now  Christianized  and  civilized 
through  the  work  of  John  C.  Paton  and  other  missionaries.  What  made 
these  islands  so  valuable  and  made  them  a  prize  to  be  coveted  by  the 
great  nations  of  'the  earth  was  the  fact  that  they  had  been  reclaimed 
from  barbarism  and  a  commercial  value  which  they  never  possesed 
before  was  given  them  by  the  conversion  of  the  people  to  Christianity. 
Dr.  Ellenwood  went  on  to  show  that  missions  exercised  a  beneficent 
influence  on  our  diplomacy  with  foreign  nations,  as  was  witnesed  at  the 
present  time  in  China,  also  that  missionary  work  had  contributed  largely 
to  the  literature  of  the  world,  and  had  given  the  church  a  more  uniform 
and  practical  theology. 

Great  Crowd  on  Chicago  Day. 

October  Qth  was  Chicago  Day,  and  it  will  pass  into  history  as  the 
greatest  peace  festival  known  to  the  annals  of  the  world's  civilization. 

The  events  which  it  commemorated  and  the  manner  and  circumstances 
of  their  commemoration  combined  to  give  to  the  celebration  at  once  the 
elements  of  greatness  and  of  immortality.  No  other  event  or  combina- 
tion of  events  within  the  range  of  conception  can  displace  the  great  day 
as  the  crowning  triumph  in  a  series  of  triumphs. 

There  were  thousands  of  men,  and  they  were  not  old  men  either,  par- 
ticipants in  the  popular  fetes  of  the  occasion,  who,  viewing  the  events  of 
the  day  with  the  aids  of  personal  experience,  could  not  fail  to  regard  the 
occasion  as  the  climax  of  a  story  which  throws  into  eclipse  the  most 
exaggerated  imaginings  of  the  romancist. 

A  Burned  City. 

Looking  backward  over  the  comparatively  short  space  of  time  they 
saw  the  skeleton  of  a  great  city,  black  and  charred,  a  vast  area  of  desola- 
tion, the  object  of  a  world's  sorrow  and  commiseration. 

Now  they  viewed  the  same  city,  renewed,  magnificent,  unrivaled,  with 


700  PROGRESS   AND   CLOSE  OF   THE   FAIR. 

its  fame  encircling  the  globe  and  its  name  the  synonym  for  all  that  is 
great  and  good  and  colossal  in  enterprise  and  achievement.  And  it  was 
this  marvelous  transformation,  the  fruits  of  matchless  daring  and  unpar- 
alleled energy,  that  furnished  the  occasion  and  spirit  which  made 
Chicago's  special  holiday  in  the  Columbian  year  a  date  to  be  remem- 
bered forever. 

From  the  first  moment  of  dawn  when  the  rising  sun  silvered  Lake 
Michigan  until  the  last  weary  visitor  left  Jackson  Park,  the  historical 
significance  of  the  occasion  was  easily  traceable.  It  was  Chicago  Day, 
and  what  this  means  cannot  be  translated  into  words.  The  World's 
Fair,  magnificent  as  it  was,  was  merely  an  item  in  the  celebration,  the 
beautiful  termination  and  crown  of  a  long  chain  of  achievement.  The 
glories  of  the  White  City  supplied  appropriate  environment,  but  the 
theme  and  actors  were  furnished  by  Chicago. 

4 

Crowds  at  Daybreak. 

At  what  particular  hour  in  the  morning  the  city  became  crowded  it 
would  be  difficult  to 'determine.  Before  it  was  day  streams  of  humanity 
began  to  surge  through  the  streets.  These  were  the  arrivals  from  out  of 
town,  running  far  up  into  the  thousands.  As  the  morning  advanced  the 
numbers  of  the  arrivals  increased,  the  railroad  depots  sending  out  verita- 
ble armies.  When  the  ordinary  resident  arose  he  looked  out  upon 
streets  well  nigh  impassable.  And  during  the  day  there  seemed  to  be 
no  diminution  in  these  immense  throngs.  It  was  known  that  they  were 
streaming  in  vast  battalions  to  Jackson  Park,  yet  the  moving  masses 
never  appeared  to  grow  less. 

The  visitors  found  the  city  in  gala  attire.  On  all  sides  were  the 
evidences  of  holiday  time.  Decorations  were  general,  many  buildings 
being  arrayed  in  flags.  And  banners  never  seemed  to  float  more  proudly 
and  gladly.  The  streams  of  bright  bunting  fluttered  gayly  as  if  con- 
scious of  the  day  that  they  were  designed  to  honor.  Every  holiday 
maker,  too,  man,  woman  and  child,  sported  some  bit  of  color  in  badge 
or  rosette.  There  was  no  particular  color  in  favor.  It  was  Chicago 
Day,  and  any  tint  did  service,  provided  it  was  warm,  gay  and  glad,  and 
symbolical  of  joyousness. 

Brilliant  Spectacle. 

The  weather,  that  most  important  of  factors  in  a  big  holiday,  was  all 
that  could  be  desired.  It  was  typical  Chicago  weather,  bright  and 
radiant,  having  the  softness  of  the  ideal  Indian  summer,  with  just  enough 
of  a  breeze  to  give  life  to  the  banners.  The  happy  sunshine  showed  the 


great  lake  in  its  best  moT>d,  calm  and  sparkling,  the  sunbeams  on  the 
water  seeming  to  invite  the  multitudes  to  be  merry  and  glad.  And  the 
invitation  was  loyally  accepted  and  large  numbers  were  led  through  its 
spirit  to  make  the  journey  to  Jackson  park  by  boat. 

Jackson  park  never  looked  more  beautiful.  On  all  sides  the  effort  was 
apparent  to  make  Chicago  day  the  "  day  of  days."  Rivalry  and  jealousy 
were  absent,  and  everywhere  was  the  generous  spirit  to  make  the  occa- 
sion memorable.  The  different  State  houses  contended  with  one  another 
in  the  matter  of  hospitality.  All  were  profusely  decorated.  San  Fran- 
cisco, over  the  portal  of  its  beautiful  building,  displayed  a  large  oil 
painting  of  typical  Chicago  framed  in  flowers.  The  other  State  build- 
ings evidenced  the  same  spirit  of  friendship,  and  all  kept  open  house  and 
helped  to  entertain  in  the  name  of  Chicago. 

•  Charming  Music. 

As  might  be  expected,  the  Illinois  building  was  the  great  center  during 
the  day.  Here  the  crowds  seemed  to  focus,  and  from  morning  until 
night  large  masses  stood  around  the  building.  An  excellent  programme 
was  played  by  a  band.  It  was  genuine  Chicago  music — that  is,  it  was 
the  music  of  all  nations.  Sweet  Southern  melodies  were  followed  by 
the  "  Marseillaise,"  and  succeeding  "  Die  Wacht  am  Rhine  "  were  the 
plaintive  and  beautiful  airs  of  Scotland,  simple,  pure  and  touching  as  the 
evening  prayer  in  a  cotter's  home. 

The  programme  prepared  for  the  day,  from  the  heralding  of  peace  by 
trumpeters  in  the  morning  to  the  brilliant  pageant  and  fireworks  at  night, 
was  in  keeping  with  the  spirit  of  the  celebration.  So,  too,  were  the 
mammoth  concerts  and  the  allegorical  displays.  Most  significant  of  all 
was  the  linking  of  the  past  and  present  in  the  tolling  of  the  Liberty  bell. 
An  Indian  rang  the  knell,  sadly  and  slowly,  of  departed  time  and  for- 
gotten manners.  Many  musical  notes  spoke'  for  the  future  of  Chicago 
and  the  glory  of  Chicago  day. 

Over  Seven  Hundred  Thousand. 

It  was  the  fault  of  700,000  people  that  the  grand  pageant  of  floats  did 
not  happen  according  to  programme.  Everything  was  ready  promptly 
on  time  at  5.30  o'clock.  The  Fair  was  entered  at  6. 15,  just  as  was  anti- 
cipated, and  the  parade  started  from  the  Sixty-second  Street  gate,  just  as 
-was  intended.  But  that  was  all.  Chicago  Day's  immense  crowd  did 
the  rest.  It  simply  wouldn't  get  out  of  the  way  to  let  the  pageant  pass. 
Consequently  all  the  efforts  of  the  float  committee  of  Chicago  Day  were 
wasted  on  the  desert  air. 


702  PROGRESS   AND   CLOSE  OF   THE   FAIR. 

Had  the  procession  got  through  as  was  originally  intended,  it  would 
have  eclipsed  all  other  pageants  this  hemisphere  has  ever  seen.  No 
description  is  vivid  enough  to  depict  the  magnificence  of  the  designs 
portrayed  by  the  floats.  All  that  the  artistic  could  demand  was  there. 
Every  detail  was  carried  out  to  the  remotest  degree.  At  6.15  o'clock, 
the  long  cavalcade  entered  Jackson  Park  at  Sixty-second  Street.  At  the 
*  start  the  pageant  was  composed  as  follows  : 

Array  of  the  Pageant. 

Band. 

Cordon  of  Police. 

Captain  E.  L.  Brand,  marshal. 

Chicago  Hussars. 

Pullman  Band. 
The  Genius  of  Music. 

Float  No.  i—"  I  Will."  ft 

Float  No.  2 — Chicago  in  1812,  Indians. 

Buffalo  Bill's  Chiefs,  High  Bear  Jealous,  Couldn't  Last,  White  Buffalo, 
under  charge  of  Scout  John  Y.  Nelson. 

Band. 

Company  of  Zouaves. 
Float  No.  3 — Chicago  in  War. 

Company  of  Zouaves. 
Float  No.  4 — Chicago  in  Peace. 
Float  No.  5 — Chicago  Prostrate. 

Fire  Department,  1861. 

Float  No.  6 — Chicago  in  Commerce. 

Float  No.  7 — Columbus  at  Isabella's  Court. 

Great  Britain — Early  Discoveries,  First  Settlers. 

Sweden — The  Vikings  and  Valkyries  in  Walhalla. 

Germany  in  Art,  Science  and  Industry. 
German-Americans  in  the  United  States,  1776  and  1861. 

Band. 
Ireland — St.  Brandon,  the  First  Discover. 

Ireland — The  Genius  of  Erin. 
Bohemia — Art,  Science  and  Agriculture  paying  Homage  to  Bohemia. 

France — La  Grande  Hermine. 
France — Marquette  Landing  in  Chicago,  1638. 

Denmark — Dania. 

Norway — Norway  i  ,000  Years  Ago. 

Norway — Norway  at  Present. 

Band. 

Poland — Washington,  Kosciusko  and  Pulaski. 
Poland — Sobieski  with  the  Polish  duke  before  Vienna 
Poland — Adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  Poland,  1791. 

Poland — Copernicus. 
Elestra,  the  Fiery  Dragon. 


PROGRESS  AND   CLOSE   OF   THE   FAIR.  703 

It  was  cause  for  congratulation  that  notwithstanding  over  700,000 
persons  were  at  Jackson  Park,  very  few  accidents  occurred.  This  shows 
that  ample  provision  had  been  made  for  transporting  a  multitude  such 
as  probably  never  gathered  before  within  a  space  no  greater  than  that  of 
the  World's  Fair  grounds. 

Women  in  Council. 

A  Convention  of  the  World's  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union 
was  held  in  Washington  Hall  on  October  i6th.  "  We  wage  our  peace- 
ful war  for  God  and  home  and  every  land,"  was  the  motto  that  greeted 
3,000  people  at  the  opening  of  the  convention.  This  sentence,  which  is 
the  creed  of  the  organization  in  essence,  is  one  of  the  many  forceful  utter- 
ances of  Miss  Frances  E.  Willard.  It  adorned  the  wall  behind  the  plat- 
form, flanked  on  either  side  by  large  framed  photographs  of  its  author. 
Belo,w  it  was  a  picture  of  a  globe  on  a  dark  ground  bound  with  a  white 
ribbon,  signifying  the  White  Ribbon  movement  circling  the  world. 
Pretty  bouquets  of  roses  and  ferns  adorned  the  desk  and  secretary's 
tables  on  the  platform. 

The  great  majority  of  the  audience  were  women,  but  there  was  a 
sprinkling  of  men,  interested  in  the  women's  war  against  intemperance 
of  every  kind.  The  delegates  who  hailed  from  all  parts  of  the  world 
had  the  center  of  the  auditorium  reserved  for  them,  and  placards  indi- 
cated the  location  of  each  nationality.  On  the  platform  were  the  leaders 
in  the  temperance  crusade  from  every  quarter  of  the  globe.  Lady 
Henry  Somerset  made  a  hurried  journey  across  the  Atlantic  to  be 
present,  and  she  arrived  in  Chicago  in  time  to  preside  at  the  opening 
session. 

Many  distinguished  persons  were  present.  Lady  Somerset  called  the- 
meeting  to  order  at  9.45  o'clock,  and  called  upon  Mrs.  Elizabeth  W. 
Greenwood,  superintendent  of  evangelistic  work,  to  lead  the  devotional 
exercises.  Mrs.  Alice  J.  Harris,  Boston,  then  led  in  singing  the  old 
"  Coronation "  hymn,  after  which  President  Bonny  welcomed  the 
delegates. 

Rev.  Dr.  Josiah  Strong  in  a  racy  address  welcomed  the  delegates  to 
Illinois  and  Chicago.  He  said  he  was  not  born  in  Chicago,  but  thirty 
miles  out  on  the  prairie,  but  if  Chicago  kept  growing  a  few  minutes 
longer  he  could  soon  say  that  he  was  born  in  Chicago. 

Children  at  the  Fair. 

Forty  thousand  children  saw  the  Fair  on  Oct.  i6th.  They  came  from 
all  parts  of  the  city.  They  went  out  to  Jackson  Park  early.  They 


704  PROGRESS   AND   CLOSE   OF   THE   FAIR. 

stayed  late.  They  saw  all  there  was  to  see.  It  was  a  laughing,  jolly, 
rollicking  crowd  of  youngsters  who  successfully  inaugurated  children's 
week  at  the  Exposition.  Teachers,  parents,  guardians,  chaperons  were 
forgotten  unless  they  happened  to  join  in  the  spirit  of  the  occasion  and 
made  merry  too.  In  a  majority  of  cases  they  so  joined. 

Once  within  the  grounds  the  small  people  let  themselves  loose.  For 
one  day  they  owned  the  Fair,  and  they  lorded  it  to  their  heart's  content. 
They  almost  drove  their  chaperons  crazy  with  questions.  The  Colum- 
bian guards  for  once  discovered  that  their  knowledge  of  the  exposition 
is  very  limited.  Even  the  chair  boys  and  the  hose-cart  men  made  way 
for  young  America. 

There  was  plenty  for  the  boys  and  girls  to  see,  and  they  took  it  all  in. 
They  seemed  to  be  everywhere  at  the  same  time.  There  was  not  a  spot 
from  one  end  of  the  park  to  the  other  that  did  not  contain  a  boy  with 
his  parents,  or  several  children  finding  fun  together,  or  a  whole  school  in 
charge  of  the  teachers.  In  the  latter  case  the  scholars  marched  through 
the  grounds  and  saw  the  sights  in  a  body. 

Manhattan   Day. 

New  York's  day  at  the  Fair  was  Oct.  2ist.  Three  hundred  thousand 
persons  were  present  on  the  grounds.  A  pleasanter  day  for  the  celebra- 
tion could  not  have  been  selected.  The  sun  shone  bright  from  early 
morn,  and  the  atmosphere  was  dry,  with  just  enough  breeze  from  the 
lake  to  temper  the  sun's  rays.  It  was  a  day  such  as  would  compel  peo- 
ple to  enjoy  themselves,  no  matter  where  they  might  be,  and  at  the  Fair 
it  was  enjoyed  thoroughly.  Altogether  it  was  a  day  of  which  even  as 
great  a  city  as  New  York  need  not  feel  ashamed. 

It  was- a  good-looking,  and,  what  is  more,  a  good-natured  crowd  that 
was  in  attendance.  It  was  a  crowd  in  which  the  leaders  of  the  two  rival 
cities  of  the  continent  met  and  mingled,  all  with  the  one  idea  of  making 
the  day  a  remarkable  one  in  the  annals  of  the  exposition.  Chicagoan 
vied  with  the  New  Yorker  in  gallantry,  in  grace  and  in  witticism. 

Opened  in  Gladness — Closed  in  Sorrow. 

On  Saturday  evening,  Oct.  28th,  Hon.  Carter  Harrison,  Mayor  of 
Chicago,  was  assassinated  in  his  own  house.  Both  the  city  and  the 
country  at  large  were  shocked  by  the  untimely  death  of  the  chief  munici- 
pal executive  who  had  acted  an  important  part  on  many  of  the  public 
occasions  connected  with  the  Exposition. 

The  official  time  for  closing  the  Fair  was  Oct.  3Oth.  Six  months 
before  it  was  opened  with  splendid  pageantry,  and  a  thousand  bright  new 


PROGRESS  AND  CLOSE  OF  THE  FAIR.  705 

banners  were  unfurled,  while  a  hundred  thousand  spectators  cheered. 
On  the  closing  day  the  weather-stained  banners  were  pulled  down  almost 
in  silence.  Those  that  represented  foreign  countries  were  not  raised 
again.  Only  the  American  flag  floated  afterwards  over  the  buildings. 
A  public  meeting  was  held  at  4.30  in  Festival  Hall,  which  naturally 
assumed  almost  the  character  of  a  memorial  service  to  the  dead  Mayor. 
Several  addresses  were  delivered  and  resolutions  were  passed,  but  there 
was  no  ceremony  by  Exposition  officials.  At  5  o'clock  there  was  a  little 
puff  of  smoke  from  the  United  States  steamer  Michigan,  which  lay  at 
anchor  off  the  grounds.  Twenty  more  peals  followed.  All  the  flags  had 
been  at  half-mast ;  but  when  the  twenty-first  gun  was  fired  they  were 
pulled  simultaneously  to  the  flagstaff's  peak,  and,  after  fluttering  there 
for  a  moment,  as  if  in  farewell,  they  went  down  for  the  last  time,  and  the 
official  announcement  was  made  that  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition 
as  an  international  affair  was  at  an  end.  Taps  were  sounded,  and  the 
Innes  Band  played  "  The  Star-spangled  Banner. "  This  was  a  spontaneous 
demonstration,  and  for  the  first  time  the  people  cheered. 

Total  Admissions. 

The  following  are  the  official  figures  for  the  paid  admissions  to  the 
Fair: — May,  1,050,037;  June,  2,675,113;  July,  2,760,263;  August, 
3,515,493;  September, 4,659,871;  October,  6, 8 16,43 5;  making  2 1,477,2 12. 
The  total  admissions  on  passes  were  2,052,188,  making  a  grand  total  of 
23,529,400. 

Counting  the  Cost. 

After  every  debt  of  the  World's  Fair  was  paid  there  remained  $  i  ,000,000 
to  be  distributed  among  the  stockholders.  Treasurer  Seeberger  made 
this  pleasant  announcement  on  the  closing  day.  The  Exposition  Com- 
pany paid  out  $30,558,849.01,  or  three  times  the  amount  the  managers 
expected  to  spend  when  they  commenced  building  the  Fair.  The  gate 
receipts  during  the  Exposition  period  proper  were  little  over  $10,000,000. 
Up  to  the  last  day  $3,300,000  had  been  collected  from  concessionaires 
by  Mr.  Blackmer's  department,  and  nearly  $700,000  were  paid  before  he 
took  hold.  The  returns  from  those  who  held  concession  privileges  was 
one  of  the  big  surprises  of  the  Fair.  Nobody  was  reckless  enough  to 
predict  that  that  sum  would  be  realized.  The  Paris  Exposition  received 
but  $80,000  from  that  source,  while  the  Centennial  Exposition  managers 
received  $1,200,000. 

45 


CHAPTER   XXXVIII. 
The  International  Exhibitions  of  the  Past. 

Origin  of  Industrial  Exhibitions — The  First  French  Exhibitions — The  Exhibitions  at  Paris  in 
1844  and  1849 — The  Dublin  Exhibition  of  1827 — The  First  International  Exhibition,  held  at 
London,  in  1851 — The  Crystal  Palace — The  New  York  Exhibition  of  1855 — The  French 
Exhibition  of  1855 — The  Palace  of  Industry — The  Manchester  and  Florence  Exhibitions — 
The  London  Exhibition  of  1862* — Other  Displays — The  Paris  Exhibition  of  1867. 

THE  first  Industrial  Exhibition  of  which  we  have  any  authentic 
account  was   held  in    France,  during  the  stormy  period  of  the 
Revolution.     In    1797    the    Marquis    d'Avize    was    appointed 
Commissioner  of  the  Royal    Manufactories   of   the    Gobelins, 
of  Sevres,  and  of  the  Savounerie.     Upon   entering  upon  the  duties  of 
his  office,  he  found  the  workmen  reduced  nearly  to  starvation  by  the 
neglect  of  the  two  previous  years,  while  the  storehouses,  in  the  mean- 
time, had  been  filled  with  their  choicest  productions.      He  conceived  the 
idea  of  establishing  an  exhibition  of  the  large  store  of  tapestries,  porce- 
lains and  carpets  thus  accumulated  by  the  government ;  and  the  consent 
of  the  government  to  this  plan  being  obtained,  preparations  were  made 
for  holding  the  exhibition  in  the  Chateau  of  St.  Cloud. 

In  the  meantime  the  Marquis  was  obliged  to  quit  France  in  conse- 
quence of  a  decree  of  the  Directory  banishing  the  nobility  from  the  coun- 
try, and  the  exhibition  scheme  proved  a  failure.  The  next  year,  1798, 
the  Marquis  returned  to  France,  and,  reviving  his  plan,  this  time  on  a 
larger  scale,  collected  a  considerable  number  of  beautiful  and  rare  objects, 
and  placed  them  on  exhibition  and  sale  in  the  buildings  and  gardens  of 
of  the  Maison  d'Orsay.  The  exhibition  proved  so  successful  that  the 
scheme  was  at  once  adopted  by  the  State,  and  at  the  close  of  the  same 
year  another  exhibition  was  held,  under  the  authority  of  the  govern- 
ment. 

This  first  official  exhibition  took  place  on  the  Champs  de  Mars,   a 
temporary  building  being  erected  for  the  purpose.     One  hundred  and  ten 
exhibitors  took  part  in  it,  and  the  display  embraced  the  most  magnificent 
collection  of  objects  of  art  and  industry  that  France  could  produce.  The 
government  was  so  well  pleased  with  the  results  of  the  exhibition  that 
it  was  announced  by  the  Minister  of  the  Interior  that  there  would  in 
future  be  an  annual  exhibition  at  Paris.     The  public  disturbances,  how- 
ever, made  it  impossible  to  carry  out  this  plan,  and  it  was  not  until  1801 
that  the  second  official  exhibition  was  held. 
706 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST.  707 

Napoleon  was  now  First  Consul.  He  entered  heartily  into  the  arrange- 
ments for  the  exhibition,  as  he  fully  comprehended  its  advantages  to  the 
country.  He  visited  the  workshops  and  factories  of  the  chief  manu- 
facturing towns  of  France,  and  urged  upon  the  manufacturers  the  great 
importance  to  themselves  and  to  the  country  of  giving  to  the  plan  their 
hearty  co-operation.  A  temporary  wooden  building  was  erected  in  the 
court-yard  of  the  Louvre,  and  in  spite  of  the  great  difficulties  in  the  way, 
the  exhibition  was  a  success.  The  exhibitors  numbered  229  ;  among 
the  exhibits  was  now  the  world-famous  Jacquard  loom.  Ten  gold, 
twenty  silver,  and  thirty  bronze  medals  were  awarded  as  prizes,  and  the 
recipients  of  the  gold  medal  were  formally  entertained  by  the  First 
Consul  at  a  state  dinner. 

The  third  French  Exhibition  was  held  in  1802,  and,  like  its  predeces- 
sor, occupied  a  temporary  building,  erected  in  the  court-yard  of  the 
Louvre.  The  number  of  exhibitors  was  540.  Among  the  successful 
exhibitors  was  Montgolfier,  the  proto-aeronaut,  Vaucanson,  the  inventor 
of  the  mechanical  duck  and  the  flute  player  ;  and  Jacquard,  the  inventor 
of  the  loom  which  bears  his  name.  The  exhibitions  had  now  become 
so  popular  that  a  "Society  of  Encouragement "  was  formed  for  the 
purpose  of  continuing  them  and  of  aiding  the  efforts  of  French  manu- 
facturers. 

Improvement  in  Exhibits. 

A  fourth  exhibition  was  held  in  1806  on  the  esplanade  of  the  Hotel 
des  Invalides.  There^ were  1,442  exhibitors.  Among  the  articles  exhi- 
bited were  the  printed  cottons  of  Mulhausen  and  Logelbach,  and  silk 
and  cotton  thread,  which  were  displayed  for  the  first  time.  Among  the 
prizes  awarded  were  one  for  the  manufacture  of  iron  by  means  of  coke, 
and  another  for  the  manufacture  of  steel  by  a  new  process. 

The  wars  of  the  Empire  made  further  exhibitions  in  France  impossi- 
ble, and  it  was  not  until  some  years  after  the  downfall  of  Napoleon  that 
they  were  revived.  A  fifth  exhibition  was  held  in  1819,  in  the  court- 
yard of  the  Louvre,  the  exhibitors  numbering  1,662.  It  was  noticed 
that  although  the  number  of  exhibitors  showed  but  a  slight  increase  as 
compared  with  the  last  exhibition,  the  quality  of  the  articles  displayed 
had  materially  improved. 

Other  exhibitions  were  held  in  the  court-yard  of  the  Louvre  in  the 
years  1823  and  1827,  and  in  1844  the  tenth  French  Exhibition  was  held 
at  Paris.  Louis  Philippe  was  King,  and  France  had  attained  a  degree  of 
industrial  prosperity  greater  than  anything  she  had  ever  known  before. 
The  Exhibition  was  the  most  superb  display  that  had  ever  been  wit- 
nessed in  Europe.  An  immense  wooden  building  was  erected  for  it  in 


-708  INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST. 

the  Carre  Marigny  of  the  Champs  Elysees  by  the  architect,  Moreau; 
and  in  this  edifice  3,960  mannfacturers  displayed  their  wares. 

In  1849,  though  the  country  was  still  suffering  from  the  effects  of  the 
Revolution  of  1848,  another  and  still  grander  exhibition  was  held.  A 
larger  and  more  imposing  building  than  that  of  1844  was  erected  in  the 
Champs  Elysees,  under  the  supervision  of  the  architect,  Moreau, 
covered  an  area  of  220,000  square  feet,  exclusive  of  an  annex  devoted 
to  a  display  of  agricultural  products  and  implements.  The  exhibition 

-     - ~  •—      !-    -~       i~  *^^S^-" 


THE  CRYSTAL  PALACE LONDON  EXHIBITION,  1851. 

remained  open  sixty  days  ;  the  number  of  exhibitors  was  nearly  five 
thousand;  and  there  were  3,738  prizes  awarded. 

Exhibitions  in  Great  Britain. 

The  success  of  the  French  with  their  Exhibitions  was  such  as  to 
encourage  other  nations  to  undertake  similar  enterprises.  As  early  as 
1827,  the  Royal  Dublin  Society  held  an  exhibition  in  their  grounds, 
and  this  was  so  successful  that  the  undertaking  was  repeated  every  three 
years  until  1850.  At  a  later  period  exhibitions  were  held  at  Manches- 
ter, Leeds,  and  other  places  in  Great  Britain.  The  Manchester  exhibi 
tion  of  1849  was  quite  a  notable  affair.  In  1845  an  exhibition  was  held 
at  Munich,  under  the  auspices  of  the  King  of  Bavaria.  Belgium  at  an 
early  day  engaged  in  such  enterprises,  and  her  exhibitions  were  both 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST.  709 

numerous  and  important.  Austria,  Spain,  Portugal,  Russia,  Denmark 
and  Sweden  also  held  successful  exhibitions  at- various  times. 

All  these  exhibitions,  however,  were  strictly  national;  that  is,  each 
was  devoted  to  the  display  of  the  products  of  the  country  in  which  it 
was  held.  In  1849,  M.  Buffet,  the  French  Minister  of  Agriculture  and 
Commerce,  conceived  the  idea  of  holding  an  exhibition  of  the  products 
of  all  countries,  and  accordingly  addressed  a  circular  letter  to  various 
manufacturers  on  the  subject,  asking  their  views.  The  replies  received 
by  him  so  thoroughly  discouraged  him  that  he  abandoned  his  plan. 

The'  honor  of  holding  the  first  International  Industrial  Exhibition 
belongs  to  England.  •  The  idea  was  first  advanced  by  Prince  Albert,  the 
husband  of  Queen  Victoria,  in  his  suggestion  of  an  International  Jubilee, 
"  to  form  a  new  starting-point  from  which  all  nations  were  to  direct  their 
further  exertions."  On  the  3Oth  of  June,  1849,  a  meeting  of  the  Society 
of  Arts  was  held  at  Buckingham  Palace,  and  to  this  body  the  Prince 
explained  his  plan  for  a  proposed  International  Exhibition  of  Compe- 
tition, to  be  held  in  London  in  1851,  and  suggested  that  the  exhibits 
should  be  grouped  under  four  main  heads,  namely,  Raw  Materials, 
Machinery  and  Mechanical  Inventions,  Manufactures,  and  Sculpture  and 
the  Plastic  Arts. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  held  on  the  I4th  of  July,  the  same  year,  he 
proposed  a  plan  of  operations  which  included  the  formation  of  a  Royal 
Commission,  a  scheme  for  the  government  of  the  Exhibition,  the  deter- 
mination of  a  method  of  deciding  and  awarding  the  prizes,  and  for  pro- 
viding the  funds  necessary  for  carrying  the  plan  into  execution.  His 
recommendations  were  adopted,  and  on  the  3d  of  January,  1850,  a  Royal 
Commission,  with  Prince  Albert  at  its  head,  was  appointed. 

Grand  Opening  by  the  Queen. 

Architects  of  all  countries  were  invited  to  submit  competitive  plans  for 
the  necessary  buildings,  and  it  was  decided  to  rely  upon  voluntary  con- 
tributions for  the  means  necessary  to  establish  the  Exhibition.  Out  of 
233  plans  submitted,  the  design  of  Mr.,  afterwards  Sir  Joseph  Paxton,  was 
accepted  by  the  Commission.  This  acceptance  was  made  on  the  6th  of 
July,  1850,  and  was  followed  on  the  26th  by  the  awarding  of  the  con- 
tract for  the  erection  of  the  buildings  to  Messrs.  Fox  and  Henderson. 
On  the  3<Dth  of  July  the  contractors  took  possession  of  the  site  in  Hyde 
Park  granted  by  the  Government  to  the  Exhibition;  on  the  i$th  of 
August  the  charter  of  incorporation  was  issued,  and  on  the  26th  of  Sep- 
tember the  first  column  of  the  great  building  was  set  up  in  its  place. 
The  work  was  pushed  forward  with  vigor,  and  on  the  1st  of  May,  1851, 


710 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST. 


— the  day  originally  appointed — the  Exhibition  was  opened  with  great 
pomp  by  the  Queen. 

The  building  was  of  iron  and  glass,  and  presented  a  pleasing,  and  at 
that  time  a  novel  combination  of  lightness,  beauty  and  strength.  Such 
an  eminent  authority  as  Fergusson  awards  it  this  high  praise  :  "  No  inci- 
dent in  the  history  of  architecture  was  so  felicitous  as  Sir  Joseph  Pax- 
ton's  suggestion.  At  a  time  when'  men  were  puzzling  themselves  over 
domes  to  rival  the  pantheon,  or  halls  to  surpass  those  of  the  Baths  of 
Caracalla,  it  was  wonderful  that  a  man  could  be  found  to  suggest  a  thing 
that  had  no  other  merit  than  being  the  best,  and,  indeed,  the  only"  thing 
then  known  which  would  answer  the  purpose.*"  • 


INTERIOR  VIEW  OF  THE  TRANSEPT  OF  CRYSTAL  PALACE. 

The  building  covered  more  than  twenty  acres  ;  it  had  a  length  of  1,851 
feet  and  a  height  ranging  from  64  to  104  feet.  Its  construction  required 
3,500  tons 'of  cast-iron  and  550  tons  of  wrought-iron  ;  896,000  superfi- 
cial feet,  or  400  tons  of  glass  ;  and  600,000  cubic  feet  of  wood.  It  cost 
about  $8j)O,ooo,  the  building  remaining  the  property  of  the  contractors 
when  the  Exhibition  was  over. 

The  International  Exhibition  of  1851  was  a  great  success.  It  was 
open  five  months  and  fifteen  days.  More  than  $200,000  was  received 
from  the  sale  of  season  tickets  previous  to  the  opening.  The  total  num- 
ber of  visitors  was  6,170,000;  the  daily  average  being  43,536.  The 
receipts  amounted  to  $2,62 5, 5 3 5,  and  an  unexpended  balance  of  $750,000 
remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Commissioners  when  all  the  expenses  were 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST.  711 

paid.  The  exhibitors  numbered  13,937,  of  whom  6,861  were  from  Great 
Britain,  520  from  the  Colonies,  and  "6,556  from  other  countries.  The 
awards  were  as  follows :  The  Council  Medal,  the  Prize  Medal  and  a 
Certificate  of  Honorable  Mention.  They  were  distributed  thus  :  Council 
Medals,  171;  Prize  Medals,  2,954;  and  Certificates  of  Honorable  Mention, 

2,123. 

American  Exhibitors. 

The  United  States  were  represented  by  a  small  but  creditable  display, 
in  estimating  which  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  our  country  was 
then  at  the  very  commencement  of  its  career  in  the  higher  department  of 
art  and  manufactures.  Powers  exhibited  his  "  Greek  Slave,"  and  "  Fisher 
Boy ;"  Nunn  and  Clark,  of  New  York,  and  Jonas  Chickering,  of  Boston, 
exhibited  their  pianos ;  Cornelius  and  Co.,  of  Philadelphia,  exhibited 
two  superb  gas  chandeliers ;  a  number  of  handsome  carriages  were 
shown ;  and  a  very  creditable  display  was  made  of  agricultural  imple- 
ments and  products. 

The  success  of  the  London  Exhibition  of  1851  gave  rise  to  a  number 
of  similar  projects  on  a  smaller  scale.  In  1853  an  International  Exhibi- 
tion was  held  at  Dublin,  a  superb  building  of  glass  and  iron  being  con- 
structed for  the  purpose.  The  Exhibition  was  opened  by  the  Viceroy  of 
Ireland  on  the  I2th  of  May,  1853.  It  was  only  partially  internationalm 
character,  but  was  deeply  interesting  and  highly  successful. 

In  the  same  year  an  International  Exhibition  was  also  held  in  New 
York.  Its  object  was  to  compare  the  productions  of  America  with  those 
of  other  countries,  with  the  hope  of  encouraging  American  manufacturers 
and  showing  them  their  deficiencies.  The  manufacturers  and  artists  of 
Europe  joined  heartly  with  those  of  our  own  country  in  the  display,  but 
in  spite  of  these  generous  efforts  the  enterprise  was  a  failure. 

An  elegant  building  of  glass  and  iron,  generally  known  as  the  Crystal 
Palace,  was  erected  at  the  intersection  of  the  Sixth  Avenue  and  Forty- 
second  Street.  The  location  is  now  enclosed  as  one  of  the  parks  of  the 
city,  and  is  known  as  Reservoir  Square.  The  piece  of  ground  secured 
for  the  purpose  was  too  small,  being  but  445  by  455  feet  in  size. 

Description  of  the  Building. 

The  building  was  octagonal  in  shape,  changing  at  the  height  of 
twenty-four  feet  to  a  Greek  cross,  with  low  roofs  in  the  four  corners,  and 
crowned  in  the  centre  by  a  dome  rising  to  a  height  of  148  feet.  The 
four  corners  of  the  building  were  octagon-shaped,  and  each  front  had 
two  towers  seventy  feet  high,  supporting  tall  flagstaffs.  The  construc- 
tion of  iron  columns,  girders,  etc.,  was  similar  to  that  of  the  London 


712 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST. 


Crystal  Palace  of  1851,  but  the  plan  of  the  dome  was  original  with  the 
architects.  The  building  covered  170,000  square  feet,  and  there  was 
also  an  annex  used  for  the  display  of  works  of  art,  covering  an  area 
of  22,000  square  feet.  The  annex  was  two  stories  in  height,  and  was 
450  feet  long  and  21  feet  broad. 

It  was  lighted  from  above,  there  being  no  windows  on  the  sides.  It 
was  connected  with  the  main  building  by  two  covered  ways  or  wings, 
one  story  in  height,  in  which  the  refreshment  rooms  were  situated.  The 
ceilings  of  the  Crystal  Palace  were  of  glass,  and  were  sustained  by  iron 
pillars.  .The  prevailing  style  of  architecture  was  Moorish  ;  the  decora- 
tions were  Byzantine.  The  ceilings  were  painted  in  white,  blue,  red,  and 


CRYSTAL  PALACE NEW  YORK  EXHIBITION,    1853. 

cream  color.  There  were  three  entrances,  147  feed  wide.  The  central 
aisle  was  forty-one  feet  and  the  side  aisles  fifty-four  feet  in  width.  The 
dome  was  100  feet  across. 

The  enterprise  seemed  doomed  to  misfortune  from  the  first.  The 
location  was  badly  chosen,  and  the  undertaking  was  hampered  with 
burdensome  conditions.  It  was  a  private  enterprise,  being  conducted  by 
a  joint  stock  company,  and  was  without  government  recognition  or  assist- 
ance. It  was  regarded  with  jealousy  by  many  of  the  American  cities, 
which  refused  to  take  any  part  in  it. 

The  opening  of  the  New  York  Exhibition  was  announced  for  early  in 
June,  but  it  did  not  take  place  until  the  I4th  of  July,  1853.  President 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST.  713 

V 

Pierce  formally  presided  over  the  ceremonies  in  the  presence  of  the 
heads  of  the  various  Departments  of  the  Government  of  the  United 
States,  and  of  the  Commissioners  from  Great  Britain  and  other  foreign 
countries.  There  were  4,685  exhibitors  represented  in  the  Exhibition,  of 
which  2,083  were  American.  As  far  as  the  display  was  concerned,  the 
Exhibition  was  a  success,  but  its  financial  management  resulted  in  failure. 

Totally  Destroyed   by  Fire.  ^ 

The  Crystal  Palace  .was  used  for  various  purposes  for  several  years 
after  the  close  of  the  Exhibition.  In  the  fall  of  1858,  during  the  prog- 
ress of  the  Annual  Fair  of  the  American  Institute,  the  building  took 
fire,  and  in  half  an  hour  was  totally  destroyed,  together  with  all  its 
contents. 

In  18543  grand  exhibition  was  held  at  Munich,  in  which  7,00 $.  exhibi- 
tors from  all  parts  of  Germany  took  part.  It  was  by  far  the  most  superb 
display  of  German  art  and  industry  ever  witnessed,  and  remained  with- 
out a  peer  until  eclipsed  by  the  German  exhibit  at  Vienna  in  1873.  The 
building  was  designed  by  Herr  Voit,  and  was  a  superb  structure  of  glass 
and  iron,  resembling  in  some  respects  the  London  Crystal  Palace  of 
1851.  It  was  of  considerable  size,  being  850  feet  in  length,  and  about 
85  feet  in  height. 

Napoleon  III.  was  now  Emperor  of  France,  and  that  country  was  in 
the  enjoyment  of  greater  commercial  prosperity  than  it  had  experienced 
for  many  years.  The  Emperor  therefore  resolved  to  undertake  an 
International  Exhibition  on  a  grander  scale  than  any  that  had  yet  been 
given.  An  Imperial  Commission  was  organized,  with  Prince  Napoleon 
as  President,  on  the  24th  of  December,  1853,  and  the  work  of  preparing 
the  buildings  was  immediately  begun.  The  Emperor  wisely  determined 
that  the  main  edifice  should  be  a  permanent  structure,  and  of  such  a 
character  that  it  should  not  only  reimburse  the  state  for  its  outlay  upon 
it  by  its  future  usefulness  after  the  close  of  the  exhibition,  but  that  it 
should  also  be  an  ornament  to  the  beautiful  city  in  which  it  was  to  stand- 

French  Palace  of  Industry. 

A  site  was  selected  in  the  Carre  Marigny  of  the  Champs  Elysees,  and 
a  permanent  edifice,  known  as  the  Palace  of  Industry,  was  erected.  It 
was  constructed  of  glass,  stone  and  brick,  and  is  now  one  of  the  principal 
ornaments  of  the  Champs  Elysees.  It  is  800  feet  longand  350  feet  wide. 
The  walls  of  the  Palace  are  of  stone,  so  largely  supplied  with  windows 
as  to  be  more  a  system  of  arches  than  walls.  The  principal  entrance  is 
on  the  Avenue  des  Champ  Elysees,  and  is  surmounted  by  k  group  of 


'14 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST. 


statuary  representing  the  Genius  of  France  distributing  rewards  to  Art 
and  Commerce.  On  the  outside  are  shields  bearing  the  names  of  the 
cities  of  France,  and  medallions  containing  busts  of  celebrated  men ;  and 
round  the  lower  frieze  the  names  of  men  celebrated  in  all  branches  of 
knowledge,  and  of  every  country. 

The  interior  consists  of  one  large  hall,  634  feet  long,  158  feet  wide  and 
115  feet  high,  surrounded  by  side  aisles  or  galleries,  on  iron  columns, 
and  100  feet  wide.  The  roof  is  of  iron  and  glass,  the  flat  walls  at  each 
end  being  filled  with  brilliant  painted  glass.  One  of  these  represents 


PALACE  OF  INDUSTRY PARIS  EXHIBITION,   1855. 

France  inviting  all  nations  to  the  Exhibition.  Besides  this  building  there 
was  a  large  rotunda,  used  for  the  display  of  the  jewels  of  the  Empress  of 
the  French  and  the  Queen  of  Portugal,  and  exquisite  specimens  of 
Gobelin  tapestries  and  Sevres  porcelain. 

An  immense  gallery,  1,300  yards  in  length,  extended  along  the  Quai 
d'Orsay,  from  the  Place  de  la  Concorde  to  the  bridge  of  the  Alma,  abut- 
ting on  the  Avenue  Montaigne,  in  which  was  situated  the  Palais 
des  Beaux  Arts.  The  area  thus  covered  was  much  larger  than 
that  of  the  London  Exhibition  of  1851,  being  about  thirty-five 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST.  715 

acres,    including   the   galleries  and   the   exterior   grounds    devoted   to 
exhibition  purposes. 

The  Exhibition  was  opened  with  great  pomp,  by  the'  Emperor 
Napoleon  III.  and  the  Empress  Eugenie,  on  the  I5th  of  May,  1855.  As 
a  display  of  objects  of  art  ^nd  'industry,  the  Exhibition  was  a  grand 
success.  Never  before  had  such  a  magnificent  and  complete  collection 
been  gathered  together.  The  number  of  exhibitors  from  France  and  her 
colonies  was  10,691.  The  foreign  exhibitors  numbered  10,608,  repre- 
senting nearly  fifty-three  foreign  countries.  The  American  exhibitors 
numbered  131. 

The  great  feature  of  the  Exhibition  of  1855  was  the  Art  Gallery, 
which  was  the  first  truly  international  display  of  works  of  art  ever 
attempted.  Its  chief  object  of  interest  was  the  beautiful  reproduction  of 
the  statue  of  Minerva  executed  by  Phidias  for  the  Parthenon.  The 
reproduction  was  on  a  smaller  scale  than  the  original. 

The  Exhibition  remained  open  from  the  I5th  of  May  to  the  I5th  of 
November,  when  it  was  formally  closed  by  the  Emperor  in  person.  The 
visitors  numbered  5,162,330,  the  highest  number  on  any  day  being 
123,017  on  Sunday,  the  pth  of  September. 

As  a  financial  enterprise,  the  Exhibition  was  not  a  success.  The  cost 
of  the  buildings  was  about  $3,373,300,  and  the  expenses  of  conducting 
the  Exhibition  brought  the  total  outlay  to  about  $5,000,000.  The 
receipts,  all  told,  came  to  but  $640,000.  This  deficit  was  largely  due  to 
the  wise  generosity  of  the  Emperor,  who,  being  desirous  that  the  whole 
people  of  France  should  be  benefited  by  the  Exhibition,  made  the  tariffof 
admissions  so  low  that  the  poorest  man  in  France  could  enter  the  gates 
and  reap  the  benefits  of  the  beautiful  display.  On  certain  days — and 
these  were  numerous — the  admission  fee  was  only  twenty  centimes,  or 
four  cents  in  American  money.  Thus,  though  the  State,  lost  money  in 
its  actual  outlay,  it  was  immeasurably  the  gainer  by  its  wise  liberality. 

Distribution  of  Awards. 

The  awards  were  distributed  by  the  Emperor  on  the  closing  day. 
They  were  as  follows  :  For  the  Industrial  Department,  112  grand  medals 
of  honor,  252  medals  of  honor,  2,300  medals  of  the  first  class,  3,900  of 
the  second  class  and  4,000  honorable  mentions  ;  for  the  Fine  Art  Depart- 
ment, 40  decorations  of  the  Legion  of  Honor,  16  medals  of  honor  voted 
by  the  jury,  67  medals  of  the  first  class,  87  of  the  second  class,  77  of  the 
third  class  and  222  honorable  mentions. 

The  United  States  were  well  represented  both  in  the  exhibition  and  in 
the  distribution  of  awards.  Of  the  hundred  and  thirty-one  American 


'16 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST. 


exhibitors,  the  proportion  of  awards  was  greater  than  any  other  country, 
as  we  received  two  grand  medals  of  honor,  one  to  McCormick  for  his 
reaper,  and  the  other  to  Goodyear  for  discoveries  in  the  treatment  of  India 
rubber.  We  also  received  three  medals  of  honor,  seventeen  first  class 
medals,  twenty-eight  second  class  medals,  and  thirty  honorable  mentions, 
each  accompanied  by  a  diploma.  Great  Britain  was  represented  by 
i, 549  exhibitors,  but  received  only  one  grand  medal  of  honor. 

In  the  year  1857  there  was  held  at  Manchester,  in  England,  an  exhibi- 
tion of  fine  art  and  fine  art  manufacture,  which  was  confined  more  par- 
ticularly to  the  art  treasures  of  the  United  Kingdom.  The  building 


LONDON  EXHIBITION,    I  862. 

covered  a  little  more  than  three  acres,  was  fire  proof,  and  cost  $122,500. 

In  1861  an  Exhibition  of  the  industrial  and  agricultural  products  and 

fine  arts  of  Italy  was  held  at  Florence,  and  in  the  same  year  Exhibitions 

were  held  in  Edinburgh  and  Dublin,  devoted  to  products  of  Scotland  and 

Ireland. 

Second  London  Exhibition. 

The  London  Exhibition  of  1851  was  the  first  of  a  series  of  Industrial 
Exhibitions,  which  it  was  resolved  should  be  given  in  the  British  capital 
once  in  ten  years.  It  was  accordingly  determined  that  the  second  one 
should  be  held  in  1861,  and  in  1 860  preparations  for  it  were  begun.  A 
charter  of  incorporation  was  issued  by  the  Crown,  and  Royal  commis- 
sioners were  appointed  under  the  presidency  of  the  Prince  Consort.  The 
Italian  war  caused  a  postponement  of  the  Exhibition  for  a  year. 

On  the  I4th  of  December,  1861,  Prince  Albert  died,  and  his  loss, 
which  was  a  terrible  blow  to  the  British  nation,  was  peculiarly  felt  by  the 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST.  717 

International  Exhibition,  of  which  he  was  the  very  life  and  soul.  His  death 
caused  no  delay  in  the  "Exhibition,  however,  which,  in  accordance  with 
his  wishes,  was  pushed  forward  steadily,  but  the  absence  of  his  wise 
counsels  and  generous  support  was  sadly  felt. 

The  site  chosen  for  the  Exhibition  was  at  South  Kensington,  at  the 
south  end  of  the  new  gardens  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  and 
not  far  from  the  site  of  the  Crystal  Palace  of  1851.  A  building  was 
erected  from  designs  furnished  by  Captain  Fowkes,  of  the  Royal  Engi- 
neers.  It  was  constructed  of  brick,  glass,  and  iron,  and  was  1,200  feet 
long  by  560  feet  wiue,  and,  together  with  its  several  annexes,  covered  an 
area  of  1,023,000  square  feet.  The  total  cost  was  about  $2,150,000.  The 
buildings  were  inferior  in  beauty  and  convenience  to  the  Crystal  Palace 
of  1851. 

The  Exhibition  was  opened  on  the  ist  of  May,  1862.  As  Prince  Albert 
died  on  the  I4th  of  the  previous  December,  neither  the  Queen  nor  any 
of  her  children  were  present.  Her  Majesty  was  represented  by  the  Duke 
of  Cambridge,  who  presided  over  the  imposing  ceremonies  with  which  the 
Exhibition  was  opened.  Thirty  thousand  persons  were  present  on  this 
occasion,  and  two  thousand  choristers  and  four  hundred  musicians  ren- 
dered the  ode  written  for  the  occasion  by  Alfred  Tennyson. 

Advance  in  Science  and  Manufactures. 

The  London  Exhibition  of  1862  was  opened  on  the  ist  of  May,  and 
was  closed  on  the  1 5th  of  November,  covering  a  period  of  a  hundred  and 
seventy-one  days,  exclusive  of  Sundays.  The  total  number  of  visitors 
was  6,211,103  ;  the  maximum  being  attained  on  Thursday,  October  3Oth, 
on  which  day  the  attendance  was  67,891.  The  total  cost  of  the  Exhibi- 
tion, including  the  "  running  expenses,"  was  $2,298,155.  The  receipts 
amounted  to  precisely  the  same  sum,  making  the  Exhibition  merely  self- 
sustaining,  but  nothing  more. 

In  its  industrial  and  machinery  displays,  the  Exhibition  of  1862  was 
a  marked  improvement  upon  that  of  1861,  and  fully  showed  the  great 
advance  that  had  been  made  in  science  and  manufacture  since  the  latter 
period  by  the  civilized  world.  The  strongest  feature  of  the  Exhibition, 
however,  was  its  display  of  the  fine  arts.  Here  Great  Britain  stood  pre- 
eminent, her  display  consisting  largely  of  the  works  of  her  great 
painters,  Hogarth,  Gainsborough,  Reynolds,  Wilkie,  Maclise,  Mulready, 
Clarkson  Stanfield,  Landseer,  and  David  Roberts. 

The  United  States,  being  engaged  in  the  life  and  death  struggle  of  the 
Civil  War,  could  give  no  official  aid  to  the  Exhibition  of  1862,  and  the 
products  of  this  country  were  represented  there  by  but  one  hundred  and 


718  INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST. 

thirty-two  articles,  the  expenses  of  their  display  being  defrayed  entirely 
by  private  funds.  In  spite  of  this,  however,  the  exhibitors  from  this 
country  received  the  largest  number  of  awards,  in  proportion,  of  any 
nation  represented.  Among  the  special  objects  of  interest  from  the 
United  States  at  the  Exhibition  of  1862  were  McCormick's  Reaper, 
Sickles'  Steam  Steering  Apparatus,  Ericsson's  Caloric  Engine,  sewing 
machines,  pianos,  maizena  or  corn  starch,  flour,  street  railway-cars,  steam 
fire-engines,  axes,  ploughs,  model  houses,  and  cotton  goods. 

Nations  Represented. 

The  total  number  of  exhibitors  at  the  International  Exhibition  of  1862 
was  28,653.     The  principal  nations  were  represented  as  follows:  Great 


PARIS  EXPOSITION  BUILDING  AND  GROUNDS,    I  867. 

Britain,  5,415  ;  British  Colonies,  3,072;  France,  3,204;  United  States, 
132;  Italy,  2,099;  Spain,  1,643;  Austria,  1,413;  Portugal,  1,370; 
French  Colonies,  826 ;  Russia,  724 ;  Belgium,  799  ,  Sweden,  511;  Hol- 
land, 348;  Greece,  296;  Denmark,  285;  Brazil,,  230;  Norway,  216; 
Hanse  Towns,  187;  South  American  Republics,  no;  Rome,  76; 
Mecklenburg,  55  ;  China  and  Japan,  3 %  ;  Africa,  17;  Switzerland,  10. 

In  the  year  1865  a  number  of  International  Exhibitions  on  a   smaller 
ccale  was  held.     At  Amsterdam,  In  Holland,  there  was  one  devoted  to 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST. 


719 


flowers ;  at  Paris,  there  was  one  for  the  display  of  cheese ;  at  Dublin, 
there  was  one  of  a  miscellaneous  character;  at  Oporto,  in  Portugal, 
there  was  one  with  3,911  exhibitors;  and  at  Stettin,  in  Prussia,  there 
was  also  one,  general  in  character,  with  1,451  exhibitors. 

France,  in  the  meantime,  had  been  planning  an  International  Exhibi- 
tion upon  the  most  elaborate  and  magnificent  scale.  As  early  as  the 
22d  of  June,  1863,  an  Imperial  decree  was  issued,  announcing  that  an 
International  Exhibition  would  be  held  at  Paris  in  1867,  and  that  it 
would  be  more  completely  universal  in  its  character,  and  more  magnifi- 
cent than  any  of  its  predecessors.  The  nations  of  the  world  were 
invited  to  take  part  in  it,  and  it  was  expressly  stated  that  the  anno''nce- 


GRAND  VESTIBULE  OF  THE  PARIS  EXPOSITION  BUILDING,   l86/. 

ment  had  been  made  so  early  in  order  to  give  to  all  desiring  to  enter  the 
Exhibition  time  to  mature  their  plans  and  preparations. 

Paris  Display  of  1867. 

A  second  Imperial  decree  in  February,  1865,  confirmed  the  first  one, 
and  gave  fuller  details  of  the  plan  determined  upon.  An  Imperial  Com- 
mission was  appointed,  and  committees  were  formed  at  home  and 
abroad  for  the  purpose  of  attending  to  the  work  of  constructing  the 
buildings  and  organizing  the  Exhibition.  \  Prince  Napoleon  was  made 
President  of  the  Commission,  and  the  work  was  begun. 

The  Champs  de  Mars — the  site  of  the  first  French  Exhibition  of  1798 
—was  assigned  by  the  government  for  the  Exhibition  of  1867.  It  was 


720  INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST. 

a  rectangle  in  shape,embracing  an  area  of  one  hundred  and  nineteqn  acres, 
and  to  it  was  added,  for  the  purposes  of  the  Exhibition,the  Island  of  Billan- 
court,  some  distance  lower  down  the  Seine,  affording  an  additional  area  of 
fifty-two  acres,  and  making  one  hundred  and  seventy-one  acres  in  all. 
The  island  was  used  for  the  Agricultural  Department.  The  main  build- 
ings were  erected  in  the  Champs  de  Mars. 

The  main  building  was  a  vast  one -story  structure,  elliptical  in  form, 
with  a  total  length  of  1,608  feet  and  a  width  of  1,247  ^eet-  The  total 
area  enclosed  by  the  outer  walls  of  the  building  was  thirty-seven  and 
eight-tenths  acres.  The  centre  of  this  space  was  occupied  by  an  open 
garden  of  one  and  one-half  acres,  which  made  the  area  under 
the "  roof  of  the  building  thirty-six  and  three-tenth  acres.  The 
plan  of  the  structure  was  unique.  It  comprised  a  series  of  vast,  con- 
centric oval  compartments,  each  one  story  in  height,  the  inner  one 
enclosing  the  central  garden  as  an  open  colonnade.  There  were  seven 
principal"  compartments,  each  of  which  was  devoted  to  the  display  of  a 
distinct  group  of  objects.  "  The  spaces  devoted  to  the  different  coun- 
tries were  arranged  in  a  wedge-like  form,  radially  from  the  centre  of 
the  building  to  the  outer  edge,  and  the  visitor,  by  proceeding  around 
one  of  the  concentric  oval  departments,  passed  through  the  different 
countries  exhibiting,  one  after  the  other,  always  keeping  in  the  same 
group  of  subjects;  but  if  he  walked  from  the  centre  of  the  building 
outwards,  radially,  he  traversed  the  different  groups  of  the  same  country. 
The  arrangement  of  double  classification  required  was,  therefore,  by  this 
plan,  completely  accomplished,  and  afforded  great  convenience  and  facil- 
ity for  study  and  comparison," 

Building  and  Grounds. 

The  outer  compartment  of  the  building  was  the  broadest  of  all,  being 
115  feet,  and  81  feet  high  to  the  top  of  the  roof.  It  was  devoted  to 
machinery,  and  along  its  entire  length  was  a  raised  platform,  supported 
by  iron  pillars,  from  which  visitors  could  view  the  machinery  below.  The 
roof  of  the  building  was  of  corrugated  iron,  supported  by  iron  pillars. 

The  grounds  surrounding  the  main  building  comprised  an  extent  of 
8 1  acres,  and  were  divided  into  a  park  and  a  reserve  garden.  Each  sec- 
tion was  beautifully  laid  off.  In  the  park  numerous  structures,  con- 
structed by  the  different  nationalities,  grew  up  in  all  varieties  of  style, 
from  the  hut  of  the  Esquimau  to  the  palace  of  a  Sultan,  the  workmen 
or  attendants  at  each  being  almost  universally  peculiar  to  the  special 
country,  and  imparting  additional  interest  to  them.  The  Champs  de 
Mars,  in  a  short  space  of  time,  changed  like  magic  from  a  dry  and  arid 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST. 


721 


plain — useful  only  as  a  place  for  manoeuvres  of  troops — to  a  charming 
park,  containing  a  city  in  the  midst  of  groves  and  green  lawns  ;  a  place 
such  as  the  author  of  the  "  Thousand  and  One  Nights  "  alone  could 
have  imagined ;  groups  of  buildings  so  violent  in  their  contrasts  as  to 
produce  harmony  only  by  reason  of  their  oddity,  and  leading  the  visitor 
to  imagine  that  he  had  been  transported  to  dream-land. 

Turkish  and  Egyptian  palaces  ;  mosques  and  temples  of  the  Pharaohs  ; 
Roman,  Norwegian,  and  Danish  dwellings  by  the  side  of  Tyrolese 
chalets  ;  here,  a  specimen  of  the  Catacombs  of  Rome  •  there,  a  group  of 


ENTRANCE  TO  THE  PARIS    EXHIBITION,   l86/. 

English  cottages  ;  workmen  and  farmers'  dwellings,  lighthouses,  theatres, 
a  succession  of  hundreds  of  constructions  as  unlike  each  other  as  pos- 
sible ;  restaurants  and  cafes  everywhere  for  all  classes  of  people  ;  noises 
of  all  kinds  filling  the  air;  concerts,  orchestras,  the  ringing  of  bells,  and 
the  blowing  off  of  steam  boilers ;  such  was  the  park  of  the  Champs  de 
Mars  during  the  Exposition  Universelle. 

The  reserve  garden  contained  the  botanical,  horticultural,  and  pisci- 
cultural  collections  of  the  Exhibition.  It  was  exquisitely  laid  off  with 
bright  lawns,  fountains,  pools,  cascades,  grottos,  conservatories,  and 
shrubbery. 

The  work  on  the  Exhibition  grounds  was  begun  in  September,  1865, 
46 


7  ±2  INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST. 

that  on  the  buildings  on  the  36  of  April,  1866.  The  Exhibition  was 
opened  with  splendid  and  imposing  ceremonies,  on  the  ist  of  April,  1867, 
by  the  Emperor  Napoleon  III.  and  the  Empress  Eugenie.  It  was  closed 
on  the  3d  of  November,  thus  covering  a  period  of  217  days,  including 
Sundays.  The  total  cost  of  the  Exhibition,  including  the  cost  of  construc- 
tion and  daily  expenses,  was  $4,688,705.  The  total  receipts,  including 
the  subsidies  from  the  Imperial  Government  and  the  City  of  Paris  of 
$1,200,000  each,  were  $5,251,361,  leaving  a  net  profit  of  $562,654.  Divi- 
dends to  the  amount  of  $553,200  were  declared  and  paid;  the  remaining 
sum  of  $9,456  was  held  for  contingencies,  and  was  finally  devoted  to 
charitable  objects.  The  number  of  visitors  was  10,200,000.  On  Sundays 
the  admission  fee  was  ten  cents. 

The  Emperor  Bestows  the  Prizes. 

The  Exhibition  of  1867  was  in  all  respects  a  wonderful  and  magnificent 
collection  of  the  arts  and  industries  of  the  world.  It  far  surpassed  any 
previous  Exhibition  in  France  or  any  other  country,  and  will  always  be 
esteemed  one  of  the  great  events  of  the  nineteenth  century.  The  agricul- 
tural department,  located,  as  we  have  stated,  on  the  Island  of  Billancourt, 
was  the  most  complete  and  extensive  display  of  agricultural  implements 
and  products  and  live-stock  that  had  ever  been  witnessed  in  Europe. 

The  distribution  of  prizes  took  place  in  the  Palace  of  Industry,  in  the 
Champs  Elysees,  on  the  1st  of  July,  in  the  presence  of  a  vast  and  brilliant 
throng,  the  Emperor  himself  bestowing  the  awards.  There  were  50,226 
exhibitors  represented  in  the  Exhibition.  The  awards  consisted  of  sixty- 
four  grand  prizes,  883  gold  medals,  3,653  silver  medals,  5,565  bronze 
medals,  and  5,801  honorable  mentions.  Of  these  the  exhibitors  from 
the  United  States  received  three  grand  prizes,  seventeen  gold  medals, 
sixty-six  silver  medals,  and  ninety-four  bronze  medals.  The  total  number 
of  American  exhibitors  was  705. 

The  highest  number  of  visitors  on  any  day  was  173,923,  on  the  27th  of 
October. 


CHAPTER   XXXIX. 
International  Exhibitions  of  the  Past — Continued. 

Paris  Exhibition  of  1869 — London  Exhibitions  Beginning  in  1871 — Expositions  in  Copenhagen^ 
Moscow  and  Vienna — Galleries  of  Fine  Arts  and  Superb  Buildings — Products  of  the  World 
Brought  Together — Centennial  Exhibition  at  Philadelphia — Complete  Success  of  the  Enter 
prise — Paris  Exposition  of  1889 — Eiffel  Tower — Cost  of  the  Exposition. 

In   1869  an  Exhibition  of  the  fine  arts  applied  to  industry  was  held  in 
the  Palace  of  Industry  at  Paris  ;  and.  in  the  same  year  an  Exhibition" 
was  held  at  Dublin,  and  a  Fine  Art  and  Loan  Exhibition,  similar  to 
the  Manchester  Exhibition  of  1857,  was  given  at 'Leeds,  in  England. 
In  1871  a  series  of  annual  International  Exhibitions   was  begun   at 
London.     The  first  of  these  was  opened  on  the   1st  of  May,  1871,  and 
was  closed  on  the  3Oth  of  September.     It  was  held  in  a  building  erected 
for  the  purpose  at  South  Kensington.     Thirty-three  foreign  countries  were 
represented ;  there  were  four  thousand  fine  art  and  seven  thousand  indus- 
trial entries  on  the  part  of  the  exhibitors,  and  the  visitors  numbered 
1,142,000.     There  were  no  prizes,  and  the   receipts  of  the  Exhibition 
balanced  its  expenses. 

The  second  of  the  new  series  of  Exhibitions  was  given  in  1872,  and 
was  devoted  to  arts  connected  with  printing,  paper,  music  and  musical 
instruments,  jewelry,  cotton  goods  and  fine  arts.  This  was  followed  by 
a  third  annual  Exhibition  in  1873,  which  made  a  feature  of  cooking  and 
its  apparatus.  The  Exhibition  was  opened  on  the  I4th  of  April  and  was 
closed  on  the  I5th  of  August.  It  was  visited  by  31,784  persons. 

Other  Exhibitions. 

In  1872  an  Exhibition  was  held  at  Copenhagen,  and  was  devoted  to 
the  products  of  Sweden,  Norway  and  Denmark.  In  the  same  year  an 
Exhibition  on  a  considerable  scale  was  held  at  Moscow.  It  was  given 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Moscow  Polytechnic  Society,  with  the 
patronage  of  the  Russian  government.  Its  various  buildings  were 
elaborately  constructed,  and  occupied  a  space  of  two  English  miles.  In 
its  arrangement  the  greatest  skill  was  shown  ;  and  its  classification  is 
said  to  have  been  the  best  and  most  scientific  which  has  ever  yet  been 
attempted.  Each  special  group  of  objects  had  separate  buildings. 
Admirable  as  it  was,  it  was  too  far  distant  for  this  country  to  take  part 
in  it. 

723 


724 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST. 


Austria  now  resolved  to  engage  in  these  friendly  contests  between  the 
nations  of  the  world,  and  to  hold  in  Vienna  an  International  Exhibition 
which  should  eclipse  even  the  French  Exhibition  of  1867.  Various 
causes,  however,  prevented  any  definite  action  from  being  taken  in  the 
matter  until  1870.  The  first  steps  were  taken  by  the  Trades  Union  of 
Vienna,  a  wealthy  and  powerful  organization,  the  president  of  which  was 
Baron  Wertheimer,  a  wealthy  manufacturer.  A  guarantee  fund  of  $1,500,- 
ooo  was  formed,  the  subscriptions  being  taken  mainly  by  the  members  of 
the  Society.  The  government  now  came  to  the  support  of  the  scheme,  and 


ROTUNDA  OF  THE  VIENNA  EXPOSITION  BUILDING,   1873. 

on  the  24th  of  May,  1870,  a  decree  was  issued  by  the  Emperor,  stating 
that "  under  the  august  patronage  of  His  Imperial  and  Royal  Majesty, 
the  Emperor,  an  International  Exhibition  would  be  held  at  Vienna  in  the 
year  1873,  having  for  its  aim  to  represent  the  present  state  of  modern 
civilization  and  the  entire  sphere  of  national  economy,  and  to  promote  its 
further  development  and  progress." 

Liberal  Bequests. 

An  Imperial  Commission  was  formed,  with  Archduke  Charles  Louis  as 
Protector,  Archduke  Regnier,  President,  and  Baron  William  Von 
Schwarz-Senborn  as  Director-General.  An  appropriation  of  $3,000,000 
was  made  by  the  government,  to  which  was  added  the  guarantee  fund 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST.  7l>-> 

previously  obtained  by  private  subscriptions.  At  a  later  period  the 
government  was  obliged  to  make  an  additional  appropriation  of 
$3,000,000. 

The  site  selected  for  the  Exhibition  was  the  Prater,  or  Imperial  Park, 
situate  on  the  border  of  the  Danube,  just  outside  of  the  city.  It  was 
admirably  chosen,  both  for  beauty  of  situation  and  for  adaptation  to  the 
purposes  of  the  Exhibition.  The  total  area  enclosed  within  the  fence 
surrounding  the  Exhibition  grounds  was  about  two  hundred  and  eighty 
acres.  The  principal  structures  were  the  Palace  of  Industry,  or  the  Main 
Exhibition  Building,  the  Gallery  of  Fine  Arts,  the  Machinery  Hall  and 
the  Agricultural  Building. 

The  Main  Building  was  constructed  of  brick,  glass  and  iron,  and  was 
2,985  feet  long,  82  feet  wide  and  52^£  feet  high  to  the  central  dome 
Opening  from  this  were  thirty-two  transverse  galleries,  250  feet  long  and 
49  feet  wide,  the  entire  structure  presentiag  a  form  not  unlilce<that  of  the 
spine  of  a  fish  with  its  lateral  projecting  bones.  The  chief  feature  of  the 
building  was  the  dome,  which  was  of  iron,  and  was  354  feet  in  diameter. 
It  was  the  largest  dome  that  had  ever  been  constructed  before,  that  of  St. 
Peter's  at  Rome  being  only  156  feet  in  diameter,  and  the  domes  of  the 
London  Exhibition  of  1862  only  160  feet  in  diameter.  It  was  crowned 
by  a  central  lantern  101  feet  in  diameter,  and  30  feet  high,  provided  with 
side  lights  and  a  conical  roof,  similar  to  that  of  the  main  dome.  On  top 
of  this  was  another  lantern  25  feet  in  diameter  and  30  feet  high,  which 
was  surmounted  by  a  huge  copy  of  the  crown  of  Austria. 

Spacious  Rotunda. 

As  the  dome  was  the  principal  feature  of  the  exterior  view  of  the 
building,  so  was  the  rotunda  the  most  beautiful  portion  of  the  interior. 
A  circular  corridor,  a  little  more  than  forty  feet  in  width,  ran  around  the 
rotunda,  connecting  with  the  nave  of  the  building  on  both  sides.  The 
columns  on  which  the  dome  rested  stood  between  the  corridor  and  the 
rotunda,  and  were  joined  to  one  another  by  large  arches.  The  columns 
and  arches  were  handsomely  finished,  and  the  effect  was  very  fine.  The 
floor  of  the  rotunda  was  lower  than  that  of  the  rest  of  the  building,  and 
in  the  centre  was  a  beautiful  fountain,  which  added  greatly  to  the  general 
appearance  of  the  Hall.  The  ceiling  of  the  dome  was  of  canvas,  and 
was  beautifully  and  appropriately  decorated  with  paintings  and  gilding. 

The  Gallery  of  Fine  Arts  stood  a  short  distance  to  the  east  of  the 
Palace  of  Industry,  and  was  connected  with  it  by  two  temporarily  covered 
ways.  It  was  built  ofbrick.and  was  stuccoed  so  as  to  produce  an  ornamental 
appearance.  It  was  650  feet  long  and  115  feet  wide.  It  proved  too  small 


72G 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST. 


and  two  annexes  were  built,  and  were  connected  with  it  by  covered  pas- 
sages, these  passages  containing  the  works  of  sculpture  on  exhibition. 

The  Machinery  Hall  was  situated  to  the  north  of  the  Main  Building, 
and  was  2615  feet  long  and  164  feet  wide.  It  consisted  of  a  nave  92 
feet  wide,  in  which  was  placed  the  machinery  in  motion,  and  two  side 
aisles,  each  28  feet  in  width,  devoted  to  machinery  at  rest. 

The  Agricultural  Halls  consisted  of  two  separate  buildings  constructed 
of  timber.  They  covered  an  area  of  426,500  square  feet. 

Superb  Buildings. 

The  grounds  were  beautifully  laid  off,  and  were  filled  with  a  large  num- 
ber of  buildings  devoted  to  various  purposes,  and  similar  to  those  which 
were  so  marked  a  feature  of  the  Paris  Exposition  of  1867.  These  were 


CENTRAL  DOME  OF  THE  VIENNA  EXPOSITION  BUILDING, 

of  unprecedented  variety  and  importance,  representing  on  a  scale  of 
great  splendor  and  completeness  the  habits,  manners,  customs  *nd  me- 
thods of  construction  of  various  nations.  The  palace  of  the  Viceroy  of 
Egypt  was  one  of  the  most  noticeable  of  these  buildings.  Designed  by 
an  Austrian  architect  long  resident  in  the  East,  and  constructed  by  native 
Egyptian  workmen  with  great  skill  and  truthfulness,  it  presented  an 
appearance  at  once  interesting  and  instructive.  One  saw  here  a  sump- 
tuous mosque  decorated  in  the  richest  manner,  an  ordinary  dwelling 
house,  and  then  a  regular  farm  and  stable  department  stocked  with 
dromedaries  and  other  domestic  animals  of  Egypt. 

Then  there  were  also  on  the  grounds  specimens  of  the  national  habi- 
tations of  Turkey,  Persia,  Morocco,  Japan,  Sweden,  etc.,  Farmers'  or 
peasants'  homes  from  all  countries,  restaurants  and  saloons,  the  Imperial 
Pavilion,  the  Jury  Pavilion,  and  special  exhibits  of  all  sorts,  amounting 
in  the  aggregate  to  more  than  two  hundered  buildings,  each  one  present- 
ing something  novel  and  pleasing. 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST.  727 

The  deepest  interest  was  manifested  by  the  various  nations  of  the 
world  in  the  Vienna  Exhibition,  and  the  collection  gathered  together 
there  represented  the  choicest  objects  of  art  and  industry  and  the  high- 
est culture  and  progress  of  the  civilized  world. 

The  Exhibition  was  opened  on  the  ist  of  May,  1873,  with  great  pomp 
by  the  Emperor  Francis  Joseph  I.,  of  Austria.  The  awards  were  for- 
mally distributed  on  the  i8th  of  August,  and  numbered  26,002  in  all. 
They  were  divided  as  follows  :  421  diplomas  of  honor  ;  3,024  medals  for 
progress  ;  10,465  diplomas  for  honorable  mention ;  8,800  medals  for 
merit;  326  medals  for  good  taste;  978  medals  for  fine  arts;  1,988  medals 
awarded  to  workmen.  The  Exhibition  was  closed  on  the  3ist  of 
October,  having  extended  over  a  period  of  148  days,  including  Sundays. 
There  were  in  all  about  42,584  exhibitors  represented.  Of  these,  643 
were  from  the  United  States,  to  whom  were  awarded  349  prizes,  of  which 
the  International  Bureau  at  Washington,  the  Light-House  Board  of  the 
United  States,  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  and  the  City  of  Boston,  for 
school  systems,  and  the  Smithsonian  Institute  at  Washington,  received 
grand  diplomas  of  honor. 

The  total  number  of  visitors  was  7,255,687,  and  the  receipts  amounted 
to  $1,032,385,  or  about  enongh  to  pay  the  running  expenses.  The  total 
cost  of  the  Exhibition  being  about  $12,000,000,  there  remained  a  deficit 
of  over  $9,000,000,  which  loss  fell  upon  trie  Austrian  Government. 

There  were  many  reasons  for  this  loss.  In  the  first  place,  a  sickly 
season  at  Vienna  had  preceded  the  Exhibition,  and  had  rendered  stran- 
gers afraid  to  visit  that  city.  This  was  followed  by  a  financial  crisis, 
which  crippled  many  who  would  have  aided  in  making  the  Exhibition  a 
monetary  success.  Added  to  this  was  the  selfish  conduct  of  the  people 
of  Vienna,  who,  by  raising  the  prices  of  living  to  an  exorbitant  figure, 
frightened  away  visitors,  and  invited  their  own  ruin.  The  contrast 
between  the  conduct  of  the  people  of  Philadelphia  during  the  Centennial 
International  Exhibition  and  that  of  the  people  of  Vienna  in  1873,  was 
marked  indeed  ;  and  the  results  in  each  case  afford  a  valuable  lesson  to 
future  times. 

The  Centennial  Exposition  at  Philadelphia. 

As  the  first  century  of  American  independence  approached  a  period, 
a  general  consensus  of  opinion  approved  the  suggestion  of  celebrating  the 
august  anniversary  in  some  manner  commensurate  with  the  tremendous 
event  to  be  commemorated.  The  methods  of  celebration  proposed  were 
many  and  diverse ;  but  finally  public  opinion  united  upon  an  Inter- 
national Exhibition,  in  which  the  people  of  all  Nations  should  be  invited 
to  participate,  as  the  most  fitting  and  impressive  manner  of  marking  the 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST.  729 

birth-year  of  the  Republic.  The  project  having  been  determined  on, 
some  discussion  arose  as  to  the  site  of  the  Exhibition ;  many  cities  were 
naturally  ambitious  to  claim  the  honor  and  reap  the  benefits  attaching  to 
the  location  of  so  momentous  an  enterprise.  Boston  and  New  York, 
respectively,  offered  cogent  arguments  and  large  inducements;  but 
Philadelphia,  the  birth-place  of  our  freedom  was  manifestly  the  appro- 
priate stage  upon  which  to  enact  the  pageant  of  progress,  and  her  claim 
was  ratified  by  an  overwhelming  public  opinion.  In  1871,  Congress 
passed  an  Act  providing  for  the  celebration  to  be  held  at  Philadelphia 
in  the  year  1876.  On  the  3d  of  July,  1873,  President  Grant  issued  his 
proclamation  and  announcment  of  the  coming  event,  and  caused  to  be 
conveyed  to  the  Foreign  Ministers  of  the  various  powers  represented  at 
Washington  an  invitation  for  the  attendance  and  co-operation  of  their 
people.  To  the  surprise  of  many,  but  gratification  of  all,  the  response 
from  foreign  countries  was  prompt  and  cordial.  The  leading  govern- 
ments accredited  as  Commissioners  men  of  high  rank,  appropriated 
large  sums  in  furtherance  of  the  project,  and  in  every  way  evinced  a  desire 
to  contribute  to  the  success  of  the  undertaking.  At  home  the  enterprise 
received  general  and  generous  support.  The  United  States  Government 
authorized  a  loan  of  $1,500,000  to  meet  the  initial  expenses.  The  State 
of  Pennsylvania  appropriated  $1,500,000;  the  City  of  Philadelphia  gave 
$1,000,000 ;  and  all  the  other  States  subscribed  to  the  stock. . 

A  Beautiful  Location. 

In  1873,  the  beautiful  grounds  known  as  Fairmount  Park  were 
selected  as  the  site  of  the  Exhibition.  The  city  not  only  relinquished  the 
Park  to  the  Centennial  Commissioners  without  charge  or  hindrance,  but 
erected  at  its  own  expense  two  magnificent  bridges  over  the  Schuylkill 
at  a  cost  of  two  millions  and  a  half  of  dollars.  The  grounds  appro- 
priated to  the  uses  of  the  Exhibition  comprised  450  acres,  of  which  285 
acres  were  fenced  in  and  included  the  various  structures  containing  the 
exhibits.  These  buildings  were  as  follows :  Main  building,  covering 
an  area  of  870,464  square  feet;  Machinery  Hall,  covering  an  area  of 
^544,720  square  feet;  Art  Building,  covering  76,650  square  feet  floor 
space  and  88,869  square  feet  wall  space ;  Horticultural  Hall,  350  feet 
long,  1 60  feet  broad  and  65  feet  in  height ;  Agricultural  Building,  cover- 
ing 117,760  square  feet;  Women's  Department  Building,  208  feet  long 
and  208  feet  broad. 

The  United  States  Government  added  to  the  interest  of  this  exhibition 
by  the  appointment  of  a  special  commission  and  the  appropriation  of  a 
sum  of  money,  $728,500,  to  represent  the  condition  of  the  different  de- 
partments of  the  government  at  that  period. 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST. 


731 


The  total  number  of  exhibitors  was  estimated  at  30,864,  the  United 
States  heading  the  list  with  8,175  '•>  Spain  and  her  colonies,  3,822  ;  Great 
Britain  and  colonies,  3,384;  and  Portugal,  2,462.  It  is  interesting  and 
gratifying  to  note  that  Spain  and  Portugal,  the  two  nations  so  closely 
connected  with  the  early  history  of  our  country,  should  have  been  such 
prominent  exhibitors. 


OBVERSE  OF  CENTENNIAL  MEDAL. 


REVERSE  OF  CENTENNIAL  MEDAL. 


The  following  countries  were  represented  : 

Argentine  Rep'c,  Denmark,  Italy, 

Austria,  Egypt,  Japan, 

Belgium,  France,  Mexico, 

Brazil,  Germany,  Morocco, 

Canada,  Great  Britain  Netherlands, 


China, 
Chili, 


and  Colonies,  Norway, 


Peru,         Sweden. 
Portugal,  Switzerland, 
Russia,     Tunis, 
Siam,        Turkey, 
Siberia,     United  States, 
Spain,       Venezuela, 


Hawaii, 


Orange  Free  State. 


The  method  of  awards  adopted  in  1876  differed  from  that  of  all  previous 
systems.  It  dispensed  with  the  international  jury  and  substituted  a  body 
of  judges  one-half  foreign,  selected  individually  for  their  knowledge  and 
experience.  It  also  dispensed  with  the  system  of  graduated  awards,  and 
required  of  the  judges  written  reports  on  the  inherent  and  comparative 
merits  of  each  product  thought  worthy  of  an  award,  setting  forth  the 
properties  and  qualities,  presenting  the  consideration  forming  the  ground 
of  the  award,  and  awarding  such  report  by  the  signature  of  their  authors. 
.The  medals  awarded  by  the  commission  were  of  bronze,  in  shape  four 
inches  in  diameter,  very  chaste  in  appearance,  and  the  largest  of  the  kind 


732  INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST. 

ever  struck  in  the  United  States.  These  awards  of  medals  were  simply 
as  evidence  merely  of  merit  and  not  superiority,  the  written  reports  indi- 
cating whose  exhibit  in  each  group  was  preferred  by  the  judges.  The 
total  number  of  awards  issued  at  the  Centennial  was  13,104,  of  which 
5,364  were  to  American  exhibitors,  and  7,740  to  foreign  exhibitors. 

The  Centennial  Exhibition  opened  May  loth,  1876.  From  that  date  until 
November  loth,  when  the  gates  were  closed,  there  was  admitted  a  grand 
total  of  9,910,996  persons,  of  whom  8,004,274  paid  the  admission  fee. 

There  were  1,815,617  entrances  of  persons  connected  with  the  Exhi- 
bition, and  91,075  complimentary  admissions,  making  a  daily  average  of 
paid  and  free  of  62,333.  The  largest  number  admitted  on  any  one  day 


MEMORIAL  HALL CENTENNIAL    EXHIBITION,  PHILADELPHIA. 

was  274,919,  on  Pennsylvania  day,  September  28th.  The  smallest  number 
on  MayKi2th,  1876,  12,720.  The  largest  number  passing  through  a  sin- 
gle gate,  in  a  single  hour,  was  1870,  or  about  thirty  persons  per  minute. 
There  was  an  average  population  residing  in  the  grounds  of.  571  persons, 
exclusive  of  tKe  guards  and  firemen. 

It  is  estimated  that  nearly  one  hundred  separate  and  distinct  associa- 
tions, including  religious,  temperance,  military,  masonic,  etc.,  met  in 
Philadelphia  in  the  summer  of  1876,  with  a  membership  of  nearly  one 
million.  The  selection  of  a  special  day  for  each  State  was  a  great  suc- 
cess, and  largely  inceased  the  number  of  visitors. 

The  railroad  facilities  in  Philadelphia  were  confined  to  the  Pennsylvania 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST.  733 

Central  and  the  Reading  roads,  and  had  a  capacity  for  receiving  25,000 
or  dispatching  10,000  per  day.  The  heaviest  one  day's  service  of  both 
roads  was  244,147.  Total  number  of  arrivals  and  departures  during  the 
World's  Fair,  5,907,333. 

Paris  Exhibition  of  1878. 

The  Paris  International  Exhibition  of  1878  again  made  an  advance  in 
magnificence  and  size  upon  all  previous  displays,  and  as  a  collection  of 
fine  art  and  literature  was  especially  notable.  The  total  area  covered  by 
the  various  buildings  was  about  eighty  acres,  and  the  exhibitors  num- 
bered as  many  as  80,000.  The  number  of  visitors  was  16,032,725,  and 
the  gross  receipts  were  $2,530,595. 

Following  this  Exhibition,  almost  every  year  during  the  next  decade  was 
signalized  by  exhibitions  in  the  chief  centres  of  Europe  and  other  parts 
of  the  world.  These  were  held  at  Berlin  and  Sidney  in  1879,  at  Mel- 
bourne in  1880,  at  Berlin,  Moscow  and  Buenos  Ayres  in  1882,  at  Amster- 
dam in  1883,  at  Calcutta  and  New  Orleans  in  1884,  at  Antwerp  in  1885, 
at  Edinburgh  and  Liverpool  in  1886,  at  Manchester  in  1887,  and  at  Glas- 
gow and  Brussels  in  1888.  At  London  have  also  been  held  with  great 
success  an  Electrical  Exhibition  in  1882,  an  International  Fisheries  Exhi- 
bition in  1883,  a  Health  Exhibition  in  1884,  an  Inventions  Exhibition  in 
1885,  a  Colonial  Exhibition  in  1886,  an  American  Exhibition  in  1887, 
Italian,  Irish  and  Anglo-Danish  Exhibitions  in  1888,  and  a  Spanish 

Exhibition  in  1889. 

The  Paris  Exposition  of  1889. 

As  early  as  1883  the  rulers  of  the  powerful  Republic  which  had  risen 
upon  the  ruins  of  the  second  Empire  and  the  extinction  of  the  Napoleonic 
dynasty,  formed  the  purpose  of  astonishing  the  world  with  such  a  display 
of  the  industrial  energy,  productive  power  and  material  resources  of 
New  France  as  should  cast  into  shade  all  previous  attempts  of  a  kindred 
nature.  With  their  usual  sagacity  the  governing  authorities  resolved  to 
invoke  the  ready  enthusiasm  of  their  countrymen  by  appealing  to  their 
patriotic  sentiment.  The  time  was  fixed  for  1889,  the  centenary  of  the 
fateful  revolution  by  which  the  divine  right  of  kings  was  forever  de- 
throned in  the  land  of  immemorial  despotism. 

In  November  1887  M.  Jules  Grevy,  President*  of  the  Republic,  upon 
the  recommendation  of  the  Minister  of  Commerce,  signed  a  decree 
ordaining  a  Universal  Exposition,  to  be  opened  in  Paris  on  May  5th,  and 
to  be  closed  October  3ist,  1889.  For  the  purpose  of  carrying  through 
successfully  this  gigantic  enterprise  the  government  pronounced  in  favor 
of  a  system  of  organization  by  the  State  in  alliance  with  a  guarantee 


7;u 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST. 


society,  which  had  been  found  to  work  well  in  1867.  This  society 
guaranteed  the  State  18,000,000  francs,  or  $3,600,000,  and  gave  certain 
pledges  in  the  event  of  the  expenses  exceeding  the  amount  calculated. 
This  society  or  syndicate  acted  by  means  of  a  Board  of  Control,  com- 
posed of  eight  municipal  Coun- 
cilors, seventeen  Senators,  Depu- 
ties and  State  Representatives 
and  eighteen  subscribers  to  the 
guarantee  fund,  each  commis- 
sioner representing  1,000,000 
francs.  Thus  the  State  had 
control  of  the  exhibition,  the 
City  of  Paris  had  a  voice  in  the 
control,  and  the  guarantee  society 
did  not  lose  sight  of  its  capital. 
The  State  was  reimbursed  to  a 
certain  extent  by  the  greater 
circulation  of  money  and  greater 
surplus  from  indirect  taxes  ;  the 
City  of  Paris  was  secured 
through  its  increased  receipts  in 
active  duties,  and  the  guarantee 
syndicate  by  its  control  of  the 
receipts  of  the  exhibition.  A 
law,  dated  July  6th, 
1886,  sanctioned  this 
combination,  and  on 
the  28th  of  July  a 
decree  regulated  the 
organization  of  the 
service.  The  Ministry 
designated  the  chief 
officers,  and  appointed 
a  Consultative  Com- 
mittee of  three  hun- 
dred persons  under 
the  title  of  "  The  Grand  Council  of  the  Universal  Exhibition." 

The  Champs  de  Mars  was  again  selected  as  the  site.  The  total  space 
occupied  was  173  acres.  The  largest  building  on  the  grounds  was  the 
Palace  of  Machinery,  measuring  1,378  feet  in  length,  406  feet  in  width 
and  haviner  an  elevation  of  166  feet  The  floor  covered  11  acres.  The 


THE  EIFFEL   TOWER. 


INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST.  735 

total  cost  of  the  structure  was  $1,500,000.  The  Palace  of  Arts  cost 
$1,350,000;  the  Palace  of  the  French  Sections,  $1,150,000;  while 
$500,000  was  expended  on  the  parks  and  gardens.  Among  these  parks 
were  interspersed  that  marvelous  collection  of  villages  which  seemed  to 
the  spectator  to  represent  the  world  in  miniature:  the  Indian  huts, 
Arabian  tents,  a  street  in  Algiers,  the  Caledonian  village.  The  Eiffel 
Tower  was  the  principal  attraction. 

This  structure,  984  feet  high,  is  named  after  its  inventor,  a  French 
engineer,  who,  however,  has  given  credit  to  this  country  as  having  fur- 
nished the  idea ;  possible  the  Sawyer  Observatory  at  the  Centennial  may 
have  suggested  it.  Its  base  formed  a  gigantic  archway  over  a  main  path 
leading  from  the  bridge  into  the  central  grounds  of  the  Exposition.  The 
tower  is  of  very  simple  construction,  built  entirely  of  iron  girders  and  pil- 
lars, with  four  great  shafts  consisting  of  four  columns  each,  starting 
from  the  four  corners  of  the  base,  and  merging  into  a  single  shaft,  which 
forms  the  main  part  of  the  tower.  This  shaft  ends  in  a  great  cupola  or 
Alphine  reception  room,  which  in  turn  is  surmounted  by  a  still  higher 
lantern  or  observatory,  the  platform  of  which  is  over  800  feet  above  the 
ground.  The  total  weight  has  been  estimated  at  15,000,000  pounds,  or 
7,500  tons,  and  the  tost  at  about  $1,000,000,  the  French  government 
assuming  one-third  the  expense. 

A  Splendid  Success. 

The  Exposition  was  in  every  respect  a  brilliant  triumph.  The  exhibits 
surpassed  all  previous  displays.  The  attendance  exceeded  the  most  san- 
guine expectation.  The  financial  results  were  unexampled  in  the  history 
of  Expositions,  and  so  remain.  There  were  fifty-five  thousand  exhibitors  ; 
of  this  number  the  United  States  furnished  nearly  two  thousand.  The 
total  number  of  admissions  by  ticket  was  a  fraction  over  twenty-eight 
millions.  The  attendance  on  the  last  day  was  four  hundred  thousand, 
the  largest  ever  recorded.  The  average  attendance  was  one  hundred  and 
thirty-seven  thousand  two  hundred  and  eighty-nine.  In  admissions  there 
was  an  increase  over  the  Paris  Exposition  of  1878  of  twelve  millions, 
and  over  the  Centennial  of  eighteen  million  persons. 

The  most  remarkable  outcome  of  this  Exposition  was  the  financial 
return.  The  government  issued  30,000,000  tickets  to  the  guarantee  com- 
pany, which,  sold  at  one  franc  each,  would  realize  $6,000,000.  It  also 
authorized  a  lottery  with  200,000  bonds  of  twenty-five  francs,  good  for 
twenty-five  tickets,  the  bonds  bearing  interest.  They  soon  sold  at  thirty 
francs,  and  over,  thus  paying  the  syndicate  well  on  its  investment. 

The  original  estimate  for  buildings  and  grounds  for  the  World's  Fair 


736  INTERNATIONAL  EXHIBITIONS  OF  THE  PAST. 

Paris,  1889,  was  32,664,5 18  francs  ;  in  our  money  about  $6,500,000.  This 
included  every  item  chargeable  to  buildings  and  grounds,  and  the  result 
it  will  be  admitted  by  every  visitor,  indicated  a  good  return  on  the  invest- 
ment, especially  when,  in  closing  up  the  account,  the  actual  cost  was 
found  to  be  $646,490  less  than  the  above  estimate.  The  total  estimate 
made  for  the  entire  cost  of  the  World's  Fair,  Paris,  1889,  was  43,000,000 
francs,  but  the  result  shows  an  outlay  of  only  41,500,000,  the  gross  total 
being  as  follows : 

Receipts         .  49,500,000  francs 

Expenses       .....    41,500,000  francs 


Showing  an  excess  in  receipts  of    .      8,000,000  francs 
Or  $1,600,000.    This  wonderful  result,  exceeding  that  of  any  previous 
exhibition,  was  due  almost  entirely  to  the  admirable  organization  of  the 
whole  affair  from  its  smallest  detail,  and  the  fact  that  nearly  all  the  officials 
connected  with  it  were  men  of  experience. 

The  harvest  reaped  by  the  City  of  Paris  was  most  abundant.  The 
gold  reserve  or  balance  in  the  Bank  of  France  enormously  increased. 
The  various  railroad  companies  admit  an  increase  in  numbers  over  the 
six  months  of  the  preceeding  year  of  1,878,747,  and  in  receipts  of  over 
66,000,000  francs,  and  the  City  of  Paris  Omnibus  Company  of  4,000,000 
The  Cab  Company  transported  26,097,112  persons  from  January  I  to 
November  i,  1889  ;  the  same  period  in  the  previous  year,  only  12,000,000. 
with  an  increase  in  revenue  of  1,558,000  francs.  The  Louvre,  a  large 
dry  goods  store  ran  four  free  stages  to  the  Exhibition/carrying  1,320,000 
passengers  gratis.  There  were  some  300  open  wagons  or  spring  wagons 
in  use,  run  by  private  parties,  making  as  high  as  $50  per  day.  The  tram- 
ways, from  May  6  to  October  31,  carried  6,342,670  people,  giving  over 
1,500,000  francs  receipts,  sometimes  carrying  10,000  per  hour.  The  Belt 
Line  carried  an  average  of  30,000  per  day  during  the  Fair,  and  a  total  of 
not  less  than  16,215,825  individuals  and  the  small  steamboats  on  the 
Seine  13,527,125;  the  theatres  all  showed  large  gains ;  the  total  excess 
of  receipts  over  previous  years  being  $19,867,555  francs. 

With  this  superlative  effort  of  the  French  the  record  ends.  Minor 
exhibitions  were  held 'during  the  year  iSSgat  Hamburg,  Berlin  and 
Vienna,  but  they  were  local  in  design  and  scope,  and  call  for  no  extended 
notice. 


l^-: 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBAN* 


30112001063947 


